Talks began more than 20 years ago on a rendition agreement with Beijing. Why did nothing come of it? The failure sheds light on the flaws of the bill.

When Hongkongers protested against the Tiananmen crackdown, Jiang Zemin said “well water should not mix with river water”. It’s clear now there’s no filter to stop that happening.

Reconciliation in a divided people can happen through honest dialogue, but is not possible without courage and a willingness to transcend long-held positions.

The examples that abound of the country’s opaque law enforcement and judiciary trampling over the rule of law show just why fear and distrust became a trigger for the protests.

Protesters are battle-hardened from learning to survive in a tough city, and cannot be scared off by thugs or beaten down by force. They won’t be silenced.

The government must first address Hongkongers’ financial insecurities before it can work on fostering a sense of Chinese identity.

A market plunge is unlikely amid the protest crisis, given the supply crunch. And even if prices fall, the lack of confidence will deter homebuyers.

Hong Kong’s government needs to show its people it is not a puppet leader. A leaderless drift will only allow thugs and hardliners to take brutal control.

With over 1,400 US companies in Hong Kong, Washington has little to gain from increased political risk in the city, especially when business interests trump all others.

Locking up troublemakers and throwing away the key would only breed revolutionaries. It’s political reform that gives our young a sense of ownership that must be a part of the solution.