NEWS
Monday, November 17, 2014 5
Hong Kong’s “Umbrella Revolution”
A different kind of civil disobedience
asian law students of osgoode ›
contributor
O
n friday, October 31, the Asian Law
Students of Osgoode in conjunction with
the Dean’s office welcomed Mr. Jason Ng,
an adjunct lecturer at the University of
Hong Kong’s Faculty of Law and head of Debt Capital
Markets Legal at PNB Paribas Hong Kong, to speak on
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement known as
“Occupy Central” or the “Umbrella Revolution.” This
movement, which is spearheaded by high school and
university students, began in Hong Kong’s financial
district on September 28 of this year and is the biggest
pro-democracy movement as well as the most significant social and political event in Hong Kong’s history
since its reversion from British to Chinese rule in 1997.
Mr. Ng has been reporting from and volunteering at
the protest sites on a daily basis since the beginning of
the movement. He shared his experience and insights
in front of an intimate audience consisting of Osgoode
students, faculty members, as well as social sciences
majors from York University. Here is a brief overview
of the Umbrella Revolution, and why this movement is
different from many other acts of civil disobedience.
What is the Umbrella Revolution?
When Hong Kong reverted back to Chinese rule in
1997, the Chinese government promised the thriving
metropolis a political system known as “One Country,
Two Systems.” Essentially, this is a complex legal
framework that allows Hong Kong to retain its capitalist economic and political structures as well as a
high degree of autonomy over its political, legal, civil,
and economic affairs. A mini-constitution, known as
the “Basic Law,”
was drafted to
govern the city of
7.2 million upon
its return to China
and to enshrine
the Chinese government’s commitment to preserving Hong Kong’s democratic system. Under the Basic
Law, certain freedoms such as the freedom of speech,
assembly, religion, and free press, which the residents
of Hong Kong previously enjoyed under British rule,
are also guaranteed until 2047.
On August 31 of this year, however, the National
People’s Congress Standing Committee (“NPCSC”), a
de facto legislative body consisting of approximately
150 members of China’s national legislature, a.k.a.
the National People’s Congress, announced a proposal concerning Hong Kong’s Chief Executive election in 2017 which in effect undermines the system of
democracy that was promised.
Article 45 of the Basic Law states that Hong Kong’s
Chief Executive should ultimately be selected “by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with
democratic procedures.” NPCSC’s August 31 decision,
however, reveals that much emphasis is placed by
the Chinese government on the words “by a broadly
representative nominating committee.” Essentially,
NPCSC ruled that candidates running in the Chief
Executive election would require more than fifty per
cent of the nominating committee’s votes in order to
“Andis es prorem exces rerio
bercitasiti a des et.”
ê Pro-democracy demonstrators hold up their mobile phones during a protest near the Hong Kong government
headquarters on Sept. 29, 2014. Photo credit: Slate.com
appear on the ballot. This guarantees that only candidates approved by Beijing would be able to run for
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive election in 2017.
This decision was met with strong resistance
from pro-democracy activists, students, and concerned citizens. On September 28, tens of thousands
of protesters took to Hong Kong’s streets to demand
the continuation of the “One Country, Two System”
regime and to call for an election system that reflects
authentic democracy.
What sets the Umbrella Revolution apart from
m a ny
other
acts
of
civi l
disobedience?
The Umbrella
Revolution is different from many
other acts of civil disobedience in that it has remained
relatively peaceful and non-violent even in the face of
police violence, provocation, and government neglect.
On the first day of the protest, for example, police
in Hong Kong reported using tear gas eighty-seven
times on unarmed protestors. While this led to public
outcry, citizens responded by flooding to the streets
and joining the protest in a peaceful manner to demonstrate solidarity with the protestors. Umbre