With surgical masks and goggles balanced on their faces, Hong Kongers Jay and Elise Lee take a moment to rest in an underpass near the city’s Legislative Council, its parliamentary equivalent.

Behind them, the acrid smell of pepper spray and tear gas comes wafting over as protesters wipe their faces with wet towels. Others have been shot with rubber bullets by police.

“It’s chaos,” says Jay Lee, describing how police are gradually gaining ground from protesters.

The couple were just two of the tens of thousands of people protesting on Wednesday against a controversial legislative bill that would allow extradition from Hong Kong to China.

Early in the morning, protesters managed to block off major roads and park space outside the Legislative Council, forcing the second reading of the bill to be delayed. But by late afternoon, police were beginning to push back.

Visibly upset, Elise brushes aside questions of whether she is scared by riot police.

“Young people are protecting our Hong Kong,” she says.

Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Show all 40 1 /40 Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A reported two million people took to the streets to protest against a controversial extradition law in Hong Kong on June 16 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters part to allow an ambulance to pass through during a protest on June 16 that reportedly attracted two million people AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester pays tribute to a man who died after falling from a scaffolding during the protests against against the extradition law proposal on June 17 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Following the demonstration, protesters cleared rubbish from the roads where a reported two million people had marched AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters part to allow buses to pass through during a protest on June 16 that reportedly attracted two million people Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A riot police officer strikes at protesters during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A police officer fires tear gas at protesters during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters scatter as police fire tear gas during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 Pauline Leung via Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters carry a banner opposing the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 16 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester holds a picture of an injured man who later died after falling from a scaffolding during the protests against against the extradition law proposal on June 17 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters run after police fire tear gas during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester rests after facing water cannons fired by police during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Police officers use a water canon on a lone protestor near the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on June 12 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters gather outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on June 12 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester waves a British flag outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on June 12 Getty Images Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters leap over barricades as they occupy roads by the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on June 12 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Some protesters run after police fire tear gas during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Police officers use pepper spray against protesters during clashes after a rally against the extradition law proposal on June 10 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester sits down in front of riot police during a protest against the extradition law proposal on June 12 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters sit in a demonstration following violence in the previous day of protests on June 13 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters barricade themselves in an area outside the Hong Kong Legislative Council during clashes with police after a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A bloody-faced police officer is led away by a colleague after clashing with protesters in a rally against the extradition law proposal on June 10 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters march through Hong Kong in opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 9 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester sits in front of a riot police line during clashes between protesters and police following a protest in Hong Kong in opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 10 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters march through Hong Kong in opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 9 EPA Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester lifts a barricade while a police officer charges in with his baton during clashes after a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester is arrested during a clash after a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters hold pictures of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 9 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester wave a Union Flag in front of police officers during a protest against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters gather outside the Hong Kong Legislative Council during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester is grabbed by a policeman as he crosses the police line during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters gather outside the Hong Kong Legislative Council during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A police officer detains a demonstrator during a protest to demand authorities scrap a proposed extradition bill with China, in Hong Kong, China June 9, 2019. REUTERS/Thomas Peter Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester shouts next to police officers during a protest during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters march through Hong Kong in opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 9 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters gather in a park in Hong Kong opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 9 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester sits by ramshackle barriers after clashes between protesters and police following a protest in Hong Kong in opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 10 AP

“We don’t have guns, we just want to protest peacefully and not be attacked by the police,” Jay Lee adds.

The extradition bill has angered Hong Kong in a way not seen in years. It has drawn ordinary people into the fray alongside more militant students and democracy activists.

Many Hong Kongers like the Lees fear that the bill is a sign that Hong Kong, a former British colony, has completely lost its autonomy to China, despite promises it would remain quasi-independent until 2047 under the “one country, two systems” arrangement.

We have to do something, otherwise Hong Kong is going to die Chris Lee

On Sunday, an estimated 1 million people of all ages and backgrounds marched against the extradition bill, according to organisers.

But while the weekend’s protest was the largest since Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, the government has continued to push forward with the bill, prompting further demonstrations.

The demonstrations represent Hong Kong’s biggest political crisis since pro-democracy protests closed down parts of the city centre for more than three months during the Umbrella Movement in 2014.

The second reading of the bill was set for Wednesday, but the vote has now been inexplicably postponed until 20 June.

Snacks, water bottles, face masks, eye solution and googles were stockpiled by protesters on the roads nearby, along with medical supplies.

Police presence was high, with 5,000 officers on the streets, many in full riot gear with batons and masks pushing back media and protesters alike.

A protester throws back tear gas during clashes with police outside Hong Kong government headquarters on Wednesday (AFP/Getty)

Ordinary Hong Kongers showed up to show their support for protesters on the front lines.

Chris Lee shuttered his bakery on one of the state’s outlying islands to participate, although he describes himself as apolitical, like so many residents do.

Anger at the bill, however, led him to join nearly 1,000 other small business owners who shut their doors on Wednesday in support of the protest.

“We have to do something, otherwise Hong Kong is going to die,” Chris says. “The government should have cared about their residents but I feel that they are totally wrong.”

He says many in Hong Kong watched as the Chinese government attacked its own citizens in 1989 at the Tiananmen Square protests and they fear what a closer relationship would mean.

The bill has also prompted international business groups, the EU and foreign governments, including the UK, to voice their concerns. In late May, the UK and Canada issued a joint statement that the bill could affect “rights and freedoms” promised to Hong Kong at reunification.

“It’s not right – they destroy one county, two systems literally,” says Blanche Chan, who works in life sciences.

Chan is also worried about how the extradition bill would impact Hong Kong’s international reputation and business environment, with hundreds of multinationals having made the city their Asia headquarters.

“It won’t only affect our future but international companies will move to other countries,” Chan says. “Millions of people are working for multinationals and could lose their jobs.”

The legislative bill will allow Hong Kong to extradite to countries with which it lacks a long-term extradition agreement, including China, on a case by case basis. The legislation was prompted by a murder case last year in Taiwan, which does not have a permanent extradition deal with Hong Kong.

Thousands of protesters with umbrellas block entry to Hong Kong's government HQ

Hong Kong did not sign an extradition agreement with China at the time of reunification, according to the Hong Kong Bar Association, due to concerns at the time about the Chinese legal system.

While the protest feels similar to 2014’s protests, Antony Dapiran, author of City of Protest: A Recent History of Dissent in Hong Kong, says citizens are more unified this time.