Just in case anyone is wondering WHY the people of Hong Kong are protesting against Chinas government, which recently made a ruling on who may stand as a candidate in elections for Hong Kongs leader, due in 2017. Whats being dubbed as the Umbrella Revolution is more than just a bunch of students exercising their right for civil disobedience. Hong Kong isnt technically a part of China, but it isnt exactly independent either. For over 100 years, Hong Kong was a colony of the United Kingdom, ruled by a governor. In 1997, Britains lease on Hong Kong expired and the territory became known as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), part of China, although this handover came with some important caveats. Hong Kong’s Basic Law, as agreed between China and Britain, means Hong Kong will retain its own currency (the Hong Kong dollar), legal system, and parliamentary system for fifty years. This means, for all practical purposes, Hong Kong is actually a separate country to China. This conflict has many implications for democracy, free speech, net neutrality, open elections, the right to protest, and the social and political influence of business. Everyone should pay attention to this.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:20:46 +0000
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