Hong Kong’s Democrats Divide

Issue Date January 2011
Volume 22
Issue 1
Page Numbers 54-67
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The 2010 political reform in Hong Kong was a historic compromise between Beijing authorities and Hong Kong democrats. For the first time in 20 years, Beijing delegates negotiated directly with Hong Kong democrats, with both sides making concessions to strike a political deal. With the Hong Kong movement split into two factions, the “negotiating faction” managed to begin pact-making with Beijing. Beijing is still intent on controlling Hong Kong as a hybrid regime. For Hong Kong’s democrats to break out of the hybrid regime, it will take a protracted struggle—with the right balance of mobilization and negotiation.

About the Author

Ngok Ma is associate professor of government and public administration at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He writes extensively on elections, party politics, and democratization in Hong Kong, and is author of Political Development in Hong Kong: State, Political Society and Civil Society (2007).

View all work by Ngok Ma