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August 5, 2019

General Strike Grips Hong Kong as Protesters Refuse to Back Down
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In Hong Kong, a general strike has paralyzed the city's transportation
and shut down many businesses and large parts of the service industry as
pro-democracy protesters escalate their demands. Hundreds of flights
have also been canceled. Demonstrators took to the streets over the
weekend, blocking major roads, with riot police firing tear gas at
crowds and arresting at least 80 people.

The popular uprising started nine weeks ago to demand the withdrawal of
an extradition bill that would have sent people from Hong Kong to
mainland China to face charges, but demands quickly grew for the
resignation of Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam, an investigation into
violence against demonstrators, and pro-independence reforms. Carrie Lam
warned Hong Kong is being pushed to "the verge of a very dangerous
situation."


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