October 24, 2014
Protests in Hong Kong: The Umbrella Movement
an estimated 100,000 people gathered in Admiralty, and
A Brief History of the Protests
hundreds rallied in Causeway Bay and Mong Kok,
protesting the use of tear gas and supporting the protests.
Hong Kong’s protests, dubbed the “Umbrella Movement”
by its organizers, began on September 23, 2014, when a
Over the following week, the number of demonstrators at
group of university students organized by the Hong Kong
the three main locations—Admiralty, Causeway Bay, and
Federation of Students (HKFS) and another student
Mong Kok—declined, but the Hong Kong government
organization called Scholarism, marched through central
appeared to make no overt effort to stop the demonstrations.
Hong Kong to protest against the China’s National People’s
In addition, anti-protest groups appeared, complaining
Congress Standing Committee’s (NPCSC) August 31,
about the economic impact and inconvenience caused by
2014, decision, which would restrict the number of and
the protests, especially in Mong Kok.
manner in which candidates for the city’s next Chief
Executive may be selected. The NPCSC decision could lead
On October 8, the Hong Kong government and HKFS
to the election of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage,
agreed to hold talks on October 10. Following the
as provided for in Hong Kong’s Basic Law (which grants
announcement of the scheduled talks, the demonstration
Hong Kong’s “high degree of autonomy” under China’s
leaders announced a rally on the afternoon of October 10.
“one country, two systems” policy) and the NPCSC’s
On October 9, Chief Secretary Lam told the press that she
December 2007 decision.
had cancelled the talks because she “realised that the basis
for a constructive dialogue between us and the students has
In the days immediately following the march, thousands of
been seriously undermined.”
protestors gathered in Tamar Park, the site of Hong Kong’s
main government buildings, calling for a meeting with
On October 14, the Hong Kong police cleared some of the
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (C. Y. Leung). The
barricades blocking roads in Admiralty and Causeway Bay,
Hong Kong government declared the demonstrations
reducing the footprint of the protests. During the police
illegal, and called for the protesters to leave Tamar Park.
action, seven officers were filmed by a local television
station, kicking and beating a handcuffed protester, later
Early on September 26, a group of students evaded a police
identified by the Hong Kong police as Ken Tsang Kin-chiu,
cordon and staged a sit-in at an open air courtyard outside
a member of the pro-democracy Civic Party. The seven
of the Hong Kong government’s main office building,
officers have been suspended, pending an investigation.
known as Civic Square. After some clashes between the
Two days later, the police dismantled the barricades and
police and the students, several students were arrested. On
tents in Mong Kok, but protesters reassembled hours later,
September 28, another group, Occupy Central with Love
blocking a major road in Mong Kok. On October 16, Chief
and Peace (OCLP), announced its decision to support the
Executive Leung announced that the Hong Kong
ongoing student protests.
Government was reaching out to HKFS via unnamed
“middlemen” to reschedule the cancelled talks. Those talks
An estimated 30,000–50,000 people gathered in Admiralty
were held live on local television on the evening of October
(near Tamar Park) on September 28, in response to a call
21, but yielded no specific results.
from HKFS and Scholarism. Around 6:00 pm, Hong Kong
police fired over 80 rounds of tear gas into the crowd of
Since the release of the NPCSC decision, the Chinese
protesters and sprayed others with pepper spray. Protesters
government has repeatedly publicly expressed its
used umbrellas to shield themselves from the pepper spray
confidence in the ability of the Hong Kong government to
and tear gas, prompting the protesters to adopt the umbrella
handle the protests. Chinese officials have also cautioned
as the symbol of the demonstrations. Police officers in riot
other governments to refrain from interfering in the
gear attempted to disperse the protesters, but were
“internal affairs” of China. Coverage of the Hong Kong
unsuccessful. The following day, Chief Secretary Carrie
protests is heavily censored in mainland China, and the
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced the postponement of
official Chinese media have alleged that “external forces”
previously announced public consultations on election
are supporting the protests.
reforms until “we have settled down for a while the
sentiments that we are now seeing in society.”
Protest Organizers
The use of tear gas, pepper spray, and riot gear appeared to
The demonstrations in Hong Kong are being led by three
rally greater support for the protests, as well as spread the
separate organizations—the Hong Kong Federation of
demonstrations across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
Students, Scholarism, and Occupy Central with Love and
Some protesters fled the tear gas and gathered in Causeway
Peace—but their control over the protestors reportedly is
Bay and Mong Kok. On the nights of September 29 and 30,
limited, especially in Mong Kok.
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Protests in Hong Kong: The Umbrella Movement
The Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS)
Secretary Josh Earnest reiterated U.S. support for universal
suffrage in Hong Kong, and stated, “The United States
The Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) is an
urges the Hong Kong authorities to exercise restraint and
association of the student organizations at Hong Kong’s
for the protesters to express their view peacefully.”
eight largest universities. Its Secretary-General is Alex
Chow Yong-kang, who has been one of the leaders of the
On the same day, the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong issued a
Umbrella Movement. The HKFS Vice Secretary, Lester
statement consistent with Earnest’s statement, but added,
Shum Ngo-fai, has also been a major figure in the
“We do not take sides in the discussion of Hong Kong’s
demonstrations.
political development, nor do we support any particular
individuals or groups involved in it.” In addition, the White
Scholarism (HKFS)
House, in response to an online petition that received over
197,000 signatures, wrote, “We believe the legitimacy of
Scholarism is an organization of high school and university
the Chief Executive will be greatly enhanced if the Basic
students. Its co-founder, Joshua Wong Chi-fung, gained
Law’s ultimate aim of selection of the Chief Executive by
prominence in Hong Kong in 2012 when he organized
universal suffrage is fulfilled and the election provides the
opposition to a “moral and national education” curriculum
people of Hong Kong a genuine choice of candidates
the Chinese government wanted the Hong Kong goverment
representative of the voters’ will.”
to introduce in Hong Kong schools. Wong helped organize
a rally of over 100,000 people after which the Hong Kong
Congressional Response
government withdrew plans to introduce the curriculum.
Members of Congress from both chambers, and from both
Occupy Central with Love and Peace (OCLP)
parties, have expressed concerns over the situation in Hong
Kong, and support for democratic reforms in Hong Kong.
Established in March 2013 by Professor Chan Kin-man,
Senator Marco Rubio wrote to Secretary Kerry, urging him
Rev. Chu Yiu-ming, and Professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting,
to “clearly speak out against this recent decision by the
OCLP is a grassroots organization that had originally
NPCSC and to work with your Chinese counterparts to
planned to stage a large-scale sit-in in Central, Hong
ensure that Beijing does not further limit Hong Kong’s
Kong’s main business and financial center, if the Hong
promised autonomy and its ability to move toward full
Kong government did not propose election reforms that
democracy.…” Senator Menendez wrote to Chef Executive
meet “international standards in relation to universal
Leung, calling on him to “exercise your leadership to
suffrage,” including “no unreasonable restrictions on the
guarantee your citizens, the people of Hong Kong, receive
right to stand for election.”
the full democratic rights and freedoms that they have been
promised and which they deserve.”
In June 2014, OCLP organized an informal poll in which
nearly 793,000 registered voters participated. A plurality
What to Expect
(42%) selected an option which allows for civil nomination,
political party nomination, and nomination by the
It is uncertain how much longer the demonstrations will
nominating committee. The PRC and Hong Kong
continue, or if and when the Hong Kong police will attempt
governments called the Occupy Central poll “illegal” and
to disperse the protestors and dismantle their camps. Each
“invalid.” OCLP reportedly has generally followed the lead
instance in which police have tried to do so appears to have
of HKFS and Scholarism during the protests.
rallied popular support for the protesters and increased the
number of people at each protest site. It is also unclear if
Non-violent Civil Disobedience
the October 21 talks will provide the basis for the end of the
demonstrations. The Hong Kong government’s perceived
Since the beginning of the protests, the three main
inflexibility regarding the NPCSC’s decision and its efforts
organizing groups have remained committed to the
to break up the demonstrations had led the HKFS and
principles of non-violent civil disobedience. OCLP posted a
Scholarism to doubt Chief Executive Leung’s sincerity.
“Manual on Disobedience” on its webpage, describing the
Similarly, the Hong Kong government questions the
philosophy and rules of non-violent civil disobedience. The
willingness or ability of the student leadership to end the
vast majority of the protesters have complied with the call
demonstrations, regardless of the results of the talks.
for non-violence, and the organizers have trained members
to intervene when tensions flare.
More Information
Obama Administration Response
For more information see CRS Reports: China's Leaders
Quash Hong Kong's Hopes for Democratic Election
White House and State Department officials reportedly
Reforms (IN10146); Hong Kong’s Summer for Democracy?
have raised the issue of democratic reforms in Hong Kong
(IN10114); Prospects for Democracy in Hong Kong: The
with senior Chinese officials during private meetings.
2012 Election Reforms (R40992); and Prospects for
Following the release of the NPCSC decision, State
Democracy in Hong Kong: China’s December 2007
Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki stated that the U.S.
Decision (RS22787).
government “supports universal suffrage in Hong Kong, in
accordance with the Basic Law and the aspirations of the
Michael F. Martin, mfmartin@crs.loc.gov, 7-2199
Hong Kong people.” On September 29, White House Press
IF00056
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