CONTEXT
Protests in Hong Kong have evolved over nearly three months.
Background of the protests
- The movement evolved from a movement against a proposed law that would allow people accused of certain crimes to be extradited to the Chinese mainland — to a wider expression of public anger at the Chinese state’s curbs on democracy and the city’s special status within the People’s Republic.
- China has been labeling the pro-democracy protestors as anarchists, radicals or terrorists.
- These protests have been compared to the 1989 demonstrations in mainland China, which culminated in the Tiananmen Square massacre.
- The movement now threatens to bring economic activity in the global financial hub to a standstill.
- Despite China’s accession to the original demand of scrapping of the extradition law, the protests continue.
China – Hong Kong relationship
- In 1997, it was decided that China would be “one country, two systems”, and Hong Kong would continue to enjoy its autonomy.
- That promise has been eroded by refusing to allow direct elections for the chief executive’s post.
Way ahead
- There is a need for the Chinese state to adapt to its promise it made to Hong Kong.
A country with superpower ambitions, negotiating massive international investments through the Belt and Road Initiative, cannot be seen incapable of delivering on the promise of federalism and autonomy.