Hong Kong protests: how did we get here?

Months of violent protests have rocked semi-autonomous Hong Kong, but the unease that led here can be traced back almost two decades. It all began shortly after the 1997 British handover of Hong Kong to China. Under what became known as “one country, two systems," Hong Kong retained basic rights not afforded to mainland China. Notably, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly. The treaty would remain in place for 50 years. Thereafter, China would be free to rule over Hong Kong without constraints. But protesters say already those rights are being rolled back by an increasingly authoritarian Beijing.