The Umbrella Revolution.
On the 1st of July 1997, Great Britain returned Hong Kong to China, becoming China’s first Special Administrative Region. After 150 years of British rule, Hong Kong exhibits clear differences to mainland China; A different dialect, judiciary, taxing system, postal service, and currency. In some ways, an entirely different culture.
Since 1997, a Chief Executive, elected by a group of Business tycoons, has run Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s constitution inevitably called for the election of the Chief Executive via the people. However, Beijing interpreted Hong Kong’s constitution differently, forcing Hong Kong to select a Chief Executive from a group of pre-screened candidates. Pro-democracy advocates saw this as a betrayal of the ‘one person, one vote’ principle and not a democratic process.
"We are not seeking revolution. We just want democracy!"
-Joshua Wong
THE UMBRELLA REVOLUTION .