Hong Kong reeling after massive protests over extradition law

Yesterday the city scape of Hong Kong saw unprecedented battles between the heavily armed police and tens of thousands of demonstrators.

They say they were provoked. The government here and its masters in Beijing have called the demonstrations illegal and irresponsible, threatening the prosperity of what is still Asia’s trading hub.

The immediate issue is the extradition law proposed by the government here and demanded by Beijing.

The broader issue is whether Hong Kong will be sacrificed by the rest of the world and Britain its former colonial master in the pursuit of closer trade with China.