Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators march with umbrellas during the protest in Hong Kong during the holiday marking 70...
Demonstrators march with umbrellas during the protest in Hong Kong during the holiday marking 70 years of Communist rule in China began in Beijing.
Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators hold banners while marching during the demonstration to mark the 22nd anniversary...
Demonstrators hold banners while marching during the demonstration to mark the 22nd anniversary of the handover of the territory in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - A demonstrator sits-in in front of the legislative council during a protest against a proposed...
A demonstrator sits-in in front of the legislative council during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong. Protesters blocking major roads in downtown Hong Kong vowed to stay until the government withdraws controversial legislation that would for the first time allow extraditions to China.
Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators protest outside the legislative council in Hong Kong.
Demonstrators protest outside the legislative council in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators protect themselves behind an umbrella during a protest against a proposed...
Demonstrators protect themselves behind an umbrella during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - Security forces towards demonstrators during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong...
Security forces towards demonstrators during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong. Hong Kong police defended the use of tear gas and rubber bullets to control a “riot situation” after protesters tried to storm the chamber where lawmakers were expected to take up a bill allowing extraditions to China.
Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators run away during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong.
Demonstrators run away during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - A protestor walks in the middle of tear gas during a protest against a proposed extradition law...
A protestor walks in the middle of tear gas during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators barricade themselves inside a building during a protest against a proposed...
Demonstrators barricade themselves inside a building during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - Police gather in Hennassy Road during the early morning after a protest against a proposed...
Police gather in Hennassy Road during the early morning after a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - A protestor holds a sign against police violence during a demonstration in Hong Kong.
A protestor holds a sign against police violence during a demonstration in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - Outside the Legislative Council during the protest in Hong Kong.
Outside the Legislative Council during the protest in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - Protestors break glass windows on the Legislative Council during the protest in Hong Kong....
Protestors break glass windows on the Legislative Council during the protest in Hong Kong. Protesters flooded into Hong Kong's legislative building after smashing their way through entrances in a dramatic escalation of efforts to force the government to withdraw controversial extradition legislation.
Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators look through items in an office after breaking into the Legislative Council...
Demonstrators look through items in an office after breaking into the Legislative Council building during a protest in Hong Kong. Protesters flooded into Hong Kong's legislative building after smashing their way through entrances in a dramatic escalation of efforts to force the government to withdraw controversial extradition legislation.
Hong Kong Protests - View of the seat of the Chairman of the Legislative Council after the protestors took over the...
View of the seat of the Chairman of the Legislative Council after the protestors took over the building during the protest in Hong Kong. Protesters flooded into Hong Kong's legislative building after smashing their way through entrances in a dramatic escalation of efforts to force the government to withdraw controversial extradition legislation.
Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators carry flags from diverse countries in order to show international support for the...
Demonstrators carry flags from diverse countries in order to show international support for the protests in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - A demonstrator throws a cement lid into a subway passage during a protest in the West Kowloon...
A demonstrator throws a cement lid into a subway passage during a protest in the West Kowloon district of Hong Kong, Tens of thousands of people crammed into the promenade, pavements and streets of Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui district for an unauthorized march during another weekend of violent unrest.
Hong Kong Protests - Two demonstrators help the owner of a street stall to put a gas mask during the protest in the...
Two demonstrators help the owner of a street stall to put a gas mask during the protest in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tens of thousands of people crammed into the promenade, pavements and streets of Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui district for an unauthorized march during another weekend of violent unrest.

Hong Kong Protests - Pedestrians run away from the confrontations between the demonstrators and the police during the...
Pedestrians run away from the confrontations between the demonstrators and the police during the protest in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - Protestors and civilians fight together during a confrontation with the police on a protest in...
Protestors and civilians fight together during a confrontation with the police on a protest in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - Police fire a round of tear gas during the protest in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong.
Police fire a round of tear gas during the protest in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - Barricade made by demonstrators during the protest in the Yau Ma Tei district of Hong Kong.
Barricade made by demonstrators during the protest in the Yau Ma Tei district of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators walk into Hong Kong Polytechnic University where demonstrators barricade...
Demonstrators walk into Hong Kong Polytechnic University where demonstrators barricade themselves. The demonstrators barricaded themselves inside the University after months of confronts with the police due to an unpopular extradition law from Hong Kong to mainland China.
Hong Kong Protests - Two students guarding the entrance ask for identification of a visitor at the gate of the...
Two students guarding the entrance ask for identification of a visitor at the gate of the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, during the siege of the University. The demonstrators barricaded themselves inside the University after months of confronts with the police due to an unpopular extradition law from Hong Kong to mainland China.
Hong Kong Protests - A demonstrator practices cocktail Molotov by throwing one into the swimming pool at the...
A demonstrator practices cocktail Molotov by throwing one into the swimming pool at the Polytechnic University. For days demonstrators were barricaded inside the University and prepare weapons for the possible confrontation with the police forces. The demonstrators barricaded themselves inside the University after months of confronts with the police due to an unpopular extradition law from Hong Kong to mainland China.
Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators take shelter behind their makeshift shields from the blu dye water propelled by the...
Demonstrators take shelter behind their makeshift shields from the blu dye water propelled by the Police's water cannon during the confronts outside the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong. For several days, protesters occupied the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where they created a centre of resistance against the police force.
Hong Kong Protests - A demonstrator hides behind a make-shift shield while being hit by blue dye water from a Police...
A demonstrator hides behind a make-shift shield while being hit by blue dye water from a Police cannon outside the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong.  For several days, protesters occupied the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where they created a centre of resistance against the police force.
Hong Kong Protests - Demonstrators use a human sling shot to throw rocks at the police during the confronts at the...
Demonstrators use a human sling shot to throw rocks at the police during the confronts at the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong. For several days, protesters occupied the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where they created a centre of resistance against the police force.
Hong Kong Protests - A demonstrator shouts to the crowd 'Free Hong Kong' before he surrenders to the...
A demonstrator shouts to the crowd 'Free Hong Kong' before he surrenders to the police outside the Polytechnical University of Hong Kong. For several days, protesters occupied the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where they created a centre of resistance against the police force.
Hong Kong Protests - A demonstrator holds a bouquet of flowers in memory of the victims of police violence outside...
A demonstrator holds a bouquet of flowers in memory of the victims of police violence outside Prince Edward station, in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong was engulfed with months-long of protests due to an unpopular extradition bill to mainland China. Critics of this law feared that it could undermine the independence of the judicial system and endanger dissidents of Beijing’s regime.
Until 1997, the city was ruled as a British colony but was returned to China under an agreement known as “one country, two systems” that gave some degree of autonomy.
Starting with peaceful demonstrations amounting to two million people on the streets which eventually led to confrontations with the security forces. Even if later on the extradition bill was revoked,  the confronts, violence and division between the population continued and grew, taking this prosperous and peaceful city into an almost daily battlefield.

Hong Kong Protests

Profile photo of Eduardo Leal
Eduardo Leal
Documentary Photographer based in Macau S.A.R., China
Public Project
Hong Kong Protests
Copyright Eduardo Leal 2024
Date of Work Jun 2019 - Dec 2019
Updated Apr 2020
Location Hong Kong
Topics Confrontation, Documentary, Oppression, Photography, Photojournalism, Protests
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