A few weeks ago, Beijing put forward an extradition bill that would allow China to extradite citizens arrested in Hong Kong to mainland China for prosecution. This would effectively circumvent Hong Kong's entire justice system, and virtually all of their existing laws, as the territory would then be forced to adhere to the much more stringent rules of the mainland, with curtailed freedom of speech, freedom of information, and many businesses put under pressure. The people were furious, and they rose up.
Now, millions march in the streets on an almost daily basis- one of the largest nonviolent protests in history. Meanwhile Beijing has been caught time and again attempting to stir the pot with inserted fake agitators, shake down tactics, and a recently disclosed mass misinformation campaign carried out on Twitter and Facebook. Many fear that Beijing's increasingly heated tone may lead to something akin to the Tienanmen Square Massacre. Many in Hong Kong believe that it's the immense press coverage from all over the world that has helped hold back Beijing, and the army they now have stationed just outside of Hong Kong.
Things are not looking good though, the fate of Hong Kong remains to be seen.