Amid protests and general strike, Hong Kong's leader says city is nearing a 'dangerous situation'

Carrie Lam.
(Image credit: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images)

Protesters are filling the streets of Hong Kong, joined by civil servants, teachers, pilots, construction workers, and others participating in a general strike across seven districts.

Demonstrators have blocked roads and trains, and almost 200 flights in and out of Hong Kong have been canceled. The protests were first sparked nine weeks ago by a proposed bill that would have allowed extradition of people arrested in Hong Kong to China. That bill has been suspended, but demonstrators are calling on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to completely withdraw the bill, launch a third-party investigation into police abuse of power, and drop all charges for the protesters who have been arrested. Lam on Monday said due to the protests, Hong Kong is "on the verge of a very dangerous situation," and called for an end to "such extensive disruptions."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.