So far, they have been (by Chinese standards) lenient with the protesters in Hong Kong. This is significant for the world. Will the Chinese replace the USA as the world's policeman? Don't be too quick to cheer. Although corruption exists here too, I firmly believe the world is a better place under the eye of the Americans.
China is tightening its grip on power & stifling dissent; they've been doing this for years. But Western nations have tried to appease them. They've just gotten bolder. International firms doing business in China are punished with cancelled contracts when their employees voice views deemed "subversive.
As an example, see this recent article in The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/08/adam-silver-nba-china-tv-broadcasts-hong-kong
Let's stand with our brothers & sisters in Hong Kong. I'm sure that anyone who lives & works here in Canada can relate to the frustrations these people feel as they fight to retain a degree of control over their lives.
And the Chinese gov't certainly hasn't shed any tears over anyone they;ve mowed down. Unlike Prime Minister Trudeau; I wouldn't be surprised if he went to Newfoundland to apologize for all the fish taken from their "schools" by Canadian fishermen.
I close this post with another example of Chinese Democracy, again from The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/08/blitzchung-hearthstone-blizzard-banned-hong-kong-protests