The Impact of the Umbrella Revolution on

Future Relations Between Hong Kong and China

Outline:
I.
Introduction
1. The Background of the Study
2. The Identification of the Problems
3. The Limitations of the Problems
4. The Objectives of the Study
5. The Benefits of the Study
6. Methodology of the Research
II.
Contents
1. A Brief History of Hong Kong
2. Hong Kongs Condition After 1997
3. The Umbrella Revolution in 2014
4. The Impact of the Umbrella Revolution on Hong Kong and China Relations
III.
IV.

Conclusion
Bibliography

CONTENTS
1. A Brief History of Hong Kong
Hong Kong has such a long history. The story of Hong Kong, a coastal
island located off the southern coast of China, began since Circa 4000 BC. The first
stone-age settlements are established on the south China coast. Archeological studies
have uncovered stone tools, pottery and other artifacts. Bronze appeared in the second
millennium BC and weapons and tools like axes and fishhooks were found.
For the early settlers in Hong Kong, its began when increasing numbers of
Chinese settled in the area since the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC) to the Song Dynasty
in (960-1279).
Early 16th century, European ships began arriving along Chinas southern
coast. Driven by trade, the Portuguese were among the first to hit the scene until the
British came. Prior to the arrival of the British, Hong Kong was a small fishing
community and a haven for travelers and pirates in the South China Sea. During the
Opium Wars with China in the Nineteenth Century, Britain used the territory, Hong
Kong, as a naval base. Following the end of the first Opium War, the Treaty of

Nanjing1 ceded the territory to the British in perpetuity. After the second Opium War
in 1860, Kowloon and Stonecutters Island were cede to Britain as said in the Peking
Convention2. Meanwhile, In 1898 Britain acquired the New Territories on a 99-year
lease.
Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the Peoples
Republic of China on July 1, 1997, after a century and a half of British administration.
Hong Kong's defacto constitution, the Basic Law, states that Hong Kong will co-exist
with China as "one country, two systems" 3 for 50 years after the handover of power in
1997. Due to expire in 2047, it states that the city "shall safeguard the rights and
freedoms of the residents.". This concept gives a high degree of autonomy otonomy to
Hong Kong, like law system, currency, flag, excise tax, imigration, and street
regulations. The exception are in defence and foreign affairs., they are still handled by
the central government in Beijing. In other words, this concept gives a guarantee to
Hongkong for having capitalism system, and China still keep its socialist system.
.
2. Hong Kongs Condition After 1997
Based on the report from Michael F. Martin 4, in 2007, 10 years that have
passed since the reversion of Hong Kong from British, to Chinese sovereignty, much
has changed and little has changed.
1 Treaty of Nanjing. 2016. Encyclopdia Britannica Online. Retrieved 11 June, 2016,
from http://www.britannica.com/event/Treaty-of-Nanjing

2 1860, Beijing Convention Britain. 2016. Chine Foreigns Relations. Retrieved 11 June,
2016, from http://www.chinaforeignrelations.net/treaty_beijing

3 One Country, Two Systems, 2016. China Facts and Figures. Retrieved 11 June 2016 from
http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/china/203730.htm

4 Michael F. Martin, Hong Kong: Ten Years After the Handover , 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2016 from
https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34071.pdf

On the political field, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

(HKSAR) has selected its first Chief Executive, only to have him step down and be
replaced in a process not without some controversy. Meanwhile, belated changes by
the British in the makeup of Hong Kongs Legislative Council (Legco) were initially
undone, but subsequent changes in the Legco selection process have brought things
back nearly full circle to where they stood prior to the Handover. There is also unease
about the independence of Hong Kongs judicial system and the protection provided
by Hong Kongs Basic Law in light of decisions made by the Chinese government.
Similarly, the civil liberties of the people of Hong Kong remain largely intact.
In part, this can be attributed to the increased politicization of the people of Hong
Kong. The freedom of the press in Hong Kong is still strong, but also faces challenges
both on the legal front and from allegations of self-censorship on the part of the
media owners reluctant to antagonize the Peoples Republic of China. Yet, even with
these challenges, many Hong Kong residents do not appear to perceive a decline in
their civil liberties since 1997.
Economically, Hong Kong is still a major international financial center and a
leading gateway into China. However, Hong Kongs economic interaction with the
Chinese mainland has grown deeper and broader over the last 10 years than was
expected, increasing the citys economic connections with China. This closer tie to the
mainland is being bolstered by the signing of a free trade agreement in 2003, called
the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, or CEPA, between China and Hong
Kong. Current economic and trade dynamics have raised concerns that Hong Kongs
relationship with China will shift in the long run from one of synergy to full
integration, possibly undermining the HKSARs high degree of autonomy.
Recent social and cultural trends appear to reflect some apprehension about
the long-term implications of current economic and political trends. There has been a
decline in Hong Kongs expatriate (ex-pat) community, including U.S. nationals.

Also, there is a perception that Hong Kongs middle class is disappearing.

Underlying many of these social and cultural trends is a redefinition of Hong Kong by
its residents, indicating a closer identification with China.
For further differences about Hong Kongs condition after 1997, see the table
1 below.

Table 1. Hong Kongs Condition after 1997

Unchanged after 1997
1. The long-held British practice of no
general elections by HK citizens
remains unchanged.
2. English is still taught in all schools.
However, many schools teach in
Mandarin in parallel with Cantonese
and English.
3. The border with the mainland continues
to be patrolled as before.
4. Hong Kong remains an individual
member of various international
organizations,
such
as
the IOC, APEC and WTO.
5. Hong Kong continues to negotiate and
maintain its own aviation bilateral
treaties with foreign countries and
territories. Flights between Hong Kong
and China mainland are treated as
international flights (or more commonly
known as inter-territorial flights in
China mainland).
6. Hong Kong SAR passport holders have
easier access to countries in Europe and
North America, while mainland citizens
do not. Citizens in mainland China can
apply for a visa to Hong Kong only
from the PRC Government. Many
former colonial citizens can still
use British
National
(Overseas) and British citizenpassports
after 1997. (Main article: British
nationality law and Hong Kong)
7. It continues to have more political
freedoms than the mainland China,

Changed after 1997

1. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is
now elected by a selection committee
with 1200 members, who mainly are
elected from among professional
sectors and pro-Chinese business in
Hong Kong.
2. All public offices now fly the dlags of
the PRc and the Hong Kong SAR. The
Union Flag now flies only outside the
British-Consulate General and other
British premises.
3. Elizabeth II's portrait disappeared
from banknotes, postage
stamps and
public offices. As of 2009, some pre1997 coins and banknotes are still legal
tender and are in circulation.
4. The 'Royal' title was dropped from
almost all organizations that had been
granted it, with the exception of
the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.
5. Legal references to the 'Crown' were
replaced by references to the 'State', and
barristers
who
had
been
appointed Queen's Counsel were now to
be known asSenior Counsel.
6. A local honours system was introduced
to replace the British honours system,
with
the Grand
Bauhinia
Medal replacing the Order of the British
Empire.
7. Public
holidays changed,
with
the Queen's Official Birthday and other
British-inspired
occasions
being
replaced by PRC National Day and

includingfreedom of the press.

8. Motor vehicles in Hong Kong, unlike
those in mainland China, continue
to drive on the left.
9. Electrical
plugs
(BS1363),
TV
transmissions (PAL-I) and many other
technical standards from the United
Kingdom are still utilised in Hong
Kong. However, telephone companies
ceased installing British Standard BS
6312 telephone sockets in Hong Kong.
HK also adopts the digital TV standard
devised in mainland China. (Main
article: Technical standards in colonial
Hong Kong)
10. Hong
Kong
retains
a
separate international
dialling
code (+852) and telephone numbering
plan from that of the mainland. Calls
between Hong Kong and the mainland
still require international dialling.
11. The former British military drill,
marching and words of command in
English continues in all disciplinary
services
including
all
civil
organizations. The PLA soldiers of the
Chinese Garrison in Hong Kong have
their own drills and Mandarin words of
command.
12. Hong Kong still uses the British date
format.
13. All statues of British monarchs like
Queen Victoria and King George
remain.
14. Road names like "Queen's Road",
"King's Road" remain.

Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day.

8. Many of the red British style pillar
boxes were removed from the streets of
Hong Kong and replaced by
green Hongkong Post boxes in the
Singapore style. A few examples
remain, but have been repainted.
9. British citizens (without the right of
abode) are no longer able to work in
Hong Kong for one year without a visa;
the policy was changed on 1 April
1997.
10. Secondary schools must teach in
Cantonese, unless approved by the
Education
Bureau.[22] Secondary
education will move away from the
English model of five years secondary
schooling plus two years of university
matriculation to the Chinese model of
three years of junior secondary plus
another three years of senior secondary.
University education extends from three
years of junior secondary plus another
three years of senior secondary.
University education extends from three
years to four.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_of_sovereignty_over_Hong_Kong
3. The Umbrella Revolution in 2014
In 26 September 2014, thousands of people started to occupy major streets in
Hong Kong which lasted for more than two months. The protesters followed the
call of the Occupy Central with Love and Peace movement, which had threatened
civil disobedience if real democracy was denied. This had happened on August

31st when the Chinese National Peoples Congress Standing Committee released
its restrictive decision on the implementation of universal suffrage for the chief
executive.5 Eventually, students initiated the street blockades after a week-long
strike. When the peaceful protesters were met with tear gas, tens of thousands of
Hongkongers were propelled to go to the streets to protest the excessive violence
against the students and other activists. As the protesters had defended themselves
with umbrellas, it became known as the Umbrella Movement. While the outburst
of passionate protest activity was influenced by economic concerns similar to
previous protests, it was primarily an anti-materialist movement which stressed
self-sacrifice for real universal suffrage6. Universal suffrage consists of the
extension of the right to vote to all citizens (or subjects), though some definitions
exclude granting that right to minors and non-citizens. Although suffrage has two
necessary components, the right to vote and opportunities to vote, the
term universal suffrage is associated only with the right to vote and ignores the
frequency that an incumbent government consults the electorate. Where universal
suffrage exists, the right to vote is not restricted by race, sex, belief, wealth, or
social status.
4. The Impact of the Umbrella Revolution on Hong Kong and China Relations

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http://qz.com/310479/did-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-

5 The Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress decided that only allow two to three
preselected candidates would be allowed to run for chief executive.
6

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. "American Heritage Dictionary Entry: suffrage". Retrieved 11 June 2016.

protests-really-change-anything/ JUGA PDF YANG AKU

KASIH, DI BAGIAN POSSIBLE RESOLUTION)
The Umbrella Revolution is deeply rooted within Hong Kong's political
history and its protracted democratization process. Eventhough the Umbrella
Revolution has been making a history since late September 2014, but there isnt
much

change

to

Hong

Kongs future

in

democracy.

The

Chinese

government has blamed separatists for a riot in Hong Kong on Monday

that led to 64 arrests and saw scores of demonstrators and police officers
wounded. In a statement quoted by Reuters, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said
a local radical separatist organization was responsible for the most serious
clashes since the pro-democracy Umbrella Revolution in the fall of 2014. It called
for Hong Kong authorities to punish what it termed illegal and criminal
activities.

http://www.basiclaw.gov.hk/en/basiclawtext/chapter_4.html#section_1