Hattie Fisher

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

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"China Media: Hong Kong Ruling." BBC News. BBC News, 1 Sept. 2014. Web. 04 Sept. 2014. . "Hong Kong Profile." BBC News. BBC News, 23 July 2014. Web. 04 Sept. 2014. . "Hong Kong's Democracy Debate." BBC News. BBC News, 31 Aug. 2014. Web. 03 Sept. 2014. . Kuenssberg, Laura. "China Accuses MPs of 'interference'" BBC News. BBC News, 1 Sept. 2014. Web. 04 Sept. 2014. . "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. . "Official Heckled amid HK Poll Anger." BBC News. BBC News, 1 Sept. 2014. Web. 04 Sept. 2014. .