Hong Kong’s “leaderless” demonstrations brought millions of people onto the streets and forced the city’s pro-Beijing leadership into a rare climbdown. But with no one directing the action, where does the movement go now?
The unpopular Bill that sparked the protests and would have allowed extradition to mainland China has now been suspended.
But protesters are adamant that the Bill must be fully withdrawn and the city’s pro-Beijing Chief Executive Carrie Lam step down – demands she has so far resisted.
“More demonstrations and resistance will happen soon if Carrie Lam does not know what respect means,” said Mr Joshua Wong, an activist who became the face of Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy “Umbrella Movement”.
Mr Wong was released on Monday (June 17), half-way into a two-month sentence linked to his activism, and a day after organisers said two million demonstrators marched in Hong Kong’s streets to protest against the bill.
He told AFP he now expects to see “upgraded, more progressive actions”.
So far, no fresh protests have been announced, but small groups of diehard activists remain in the streets around the city’s legislature, setting up supply stations with water, food and first-aid kits in anticipation of future mobilisation.