Hong Kong’s Democracy Debate
Hattie Fisher
POL 337
A (very) Brief History
of Hong Kong
1842: First
Opium War,
Hong Kong
ceded to
Great
Britain
1997: Hong Kong
returned to
China as Special
Administrative
Region; “One
Country, Two
Systems” rule
1946: Britain
re-establishes
governance;
refugees from
China’s civil war
1898-1941:
period of war
and
instability
during SinoJapanese war
and WWII
1970s: Hong
Kong
established as
an economic
powerhouse
of Asia
Beijing
promises Hong
Kong direct
elections for
leader in 2017
and legislators
by 2020
Hong Kong’s Side of the Debate
• China promised direct
democratic elections
• This committee is more
likely to approve Beijing
loyalist candidates
• But, Pro-Beijing Groups
and the Hong Kong
government position
support China’s ruling
China’s Side of the Debate
• Keep Hong Kong under
Chinese control
• Still upholding their
promise– democracy
should be a gradual
process
• China itself moving away
from democratic reform
• Ruling is legal by Hong
Kong law
Why is this Important?
• Destabilize Hong Kong
• Harmful to China-Hong
Kong relations
• Harmful to Britain-China
relations
Sources
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"China Media: Hong Kong Ruling." BBC News. BBC News, 1 Sept. 2014. Web. 04
Sept. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-29008800>.
"Hong Kong Profile." BBC News. BBC News, 23 July 2014. Web. 04 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16526765>.
"Hong Kong's Democracy Debate." BBC News. BBC News, 31 Aug. 2014. Web. 03
Sept. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-27921954>.
Kuenssberg, Laura. "China Accuses MPs of 'interference'" BBC News. BBC News, 1
Sept. 2014. Web. 04 Sept. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics29016776>.
"NPC Decides on Nominating Committee for HKSAR Chief Executive Selection Xinhua | English.news.cn." NPC Decides on Nominating Committee for HKSAR Chief
Executive Selection - Xinhua | English.news.cn. Government of the People's
Republic of China, 31 Aug. 2014. Web. 04 Sept. 2014.
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-08/31/c_133609213_2.htm>.
"Official Heckled amid HK Poll Anger." BBC News. BBC News, 1 Sept. 2014. Web. 04
Sept. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29008880>.