Hong Kong’s Democrats Stumble

Issue Date January 2005
Volume 16
Issue 1
Page Numbers 138-52
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Since the protest rally on July 1, 2003, the demand for democracy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) had been growing. The pro-democracy movement planned to exert pressure on the Tung administration and the Chinese authorities through the Legislative Council elections in September 2004. The result obviously shows that people still want democracy and universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008. The events in 2003 and 2004 have presented a severe challenge to the Chinese leadership and the “one country, two systems” model. It seems that when the Chinese leadership believes that it is challenged, intervention will be stepped up to ensure that Hong Kong will not get out of control.

About the Author

Joseph Y.S. Cheng is professor of political science at the City University of Hong Kong and founding editor of the Hong Kong Journal of Social Sciences. From 1991 to 1992, he served on the staff of the Central Policy Unit of the Government of Hong Kong.

View all work by Joseph Y.S. Cheng