Protests in Hong Kong: The “Umbrella Movement” (Update)
November 28, 2014
Protests in Hong Kong: The “Umbrella Movement” (Update)
Students and others took to the streets of Hong Kong on
(near Tamar Park) on September 28, in response to a call
September 23, 2014, launching a protest movement that its
from HKFS and Scholarism. Around 6:00 pm that day,
organizers now call the “Umbrella Movement.” That first
Hong Kong police began firing tear gas into the crowd of
day, a group of students organized by the Hong Kong
protesters and sprayed others with pepper spray. The use of
Federation of Students (HKFS) and another student
tear gas and pepper spray continued for over six hours.
organization, Scholarism, marched through central Hong
Protesters used umbrellas to shield themselves from the
Kong to protest against the an August 31, 2014, decision by
pepper spray and tear gas, prompting the protesters to adopt
China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee
the umbrella as the symbol of the demonstrations. The
(NPCSC) that would restrict the number of candidates for
following day, Hong Kong Chief Secretary Carrie Lam
the city’s next Chief Executive and the way they may be
Cheng Yuet-ngor announced the postponement of planned
selected. Over the two months of sit-ins that followed, the
public consultations on election reforms until “we have
movement raised questions about the limits of Hong Kong’s
settled down for a while the sentiments that we are now
autonomy from China, the ability of Hong Kong’s
seeing in society.”
Legislative Council (Legco) to pass reforms that could lead
to a more democratic government in Hong Kong, the socio-
The use of tear gas, pepper spray, and riot gear appeared to
economic policies of the administration of Chief Executive
rally greater popular support for the protests, as well as
(CE) Leung Chun-ying (C. Y. Leung), and the proper role
spread the demonstrations across Hong Kong Island and
of the United States and other nations in the ongoing
Kowloon. On the nights of September 29 and 30, an
political crisis.
estimated 100,000 people gathered in Admiralty, near most
of Hong Kong’s main government buildings, and hundreds
Summary of the NPCSC Decision
rallied in Causeway Bay and Mong Kok, to protest the use
The current Chief Executive was selected by a 1,200-
of tear gas and support the protests.
member Election Committee, consistent with Article 45 of
the Basic Law, a 1990 law enacted by China’s National
Over the following week, the number of demonstrators at
People’s Congress as Hong Kong’s “mini-constitution.”
the three main locations—Admiralty, Causeway Bay, and
That same article, however, states that, “The ultimate aim is
Mong Kok—declined, but the Hong Kong government
the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage
appeared to make no overt effort to stop the demonstrations.
upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating
Anti-protest groups appeared, complaining about the
committee in accordance with democratic procedures.”
economic impact and inconvenience caused by the protests,
especially in Mong Kok.
The NPCSC August 31 decision allows the election of the
Chief Executive by universal suffrage provided that a
On October 8, the Hong Kong government and HKFS
1,200-person Nominating Committee nominates only two
agreed to hold talks on October 10. The following day,
or three candidates, and that those candidates receive the
Chief Secretary Lam cancelled the talks because she
support of a majority of the Nominating Committee
“realised that the basis for a constructive dialogue between
members. In addition, the NPCSC decision specifies that
us and the students has been seriously undermined,”
the Nominating Committee is to be created “in accordance
apparently in response to a call from HKFS and Scholarism
with the number of members, composition, and formation
for supporters to gather in Admiralty to show support. On
method” of the current Election Committee. The protesters
October 16, Chief Executive Leung announced that the
and other pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong maintain
Hong Kong Government was reaching out to HKFS via
that the nomination process required by the NPCSC would
unnamed “middlemen” to reschedule the cancelled talks.
produce a nomination committee that is not “broadly
Those talks, rescheduled to October 21, were held live on
representative” and would preclude the nomination of pro-
local television, but yielded no specific results. No
democracy candidates.
subsequent talks have been held.
An Overview of the Protests
Two separate civil court cases have been brought against
The protesters initially called for Chief Executive Leung’s
the demonstrators for blocking roads. The owners of CITIC
resignation and retraction of the NPCSC’s August 31
Tower in Admiralty asked the courts to open the roads
decision. More recently, their main demand has been the
around their building, and Hong Kong taxi drivers asked the
ability to elect the Chief Executive by “genuine universal
courts to open several major roads that protestors had
suffrage,” and to meet with Hong Kong officials to discuss
blocked in Mong Kok. The Admiralty injunction was
ways of achieving that goal.
enforced by bailiffs of the court, with police support, on
November 18 without incident. The police removed the
In its initial days, support for the student protesters grew.
barricades and protesters in the Mong Kok on November 25
An estimated 30,000-50,000 people gathered in Admiralty
and 26; over 100 protesters were arrested.
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Protests in Hong Kong: The “Umbrella Movement” (Update)
Since the release of the NPCSC decision, the Chinese
Secretary Josh Earnest reiterated U.S. support for universal
government has repeatedly expressed its confidence in the
suffrage in Hong Kong, and stated, “The United States
ability of the Hong Kong government to handle the protests.
urges the Hong Kong authorities to exercise restraint and
Chinese officials have also cautioned other governments to
for the protesters to express their view peacefully.”
refrain from interfering in the “internal affairs” of China.
Coverage of the Hong Kong protests is heavily censored in
Following his meeting with President Xi in Beijing on
mainland China, and official Chinese media have alleged
November 12, President Obama made the following
that “external forces” are supporting the protests.
statement: “I reiterated to President Xi, as I have before,
that America’s unwavering support for fundamental human
Protest Organizers
rights of all people will continue to be an important element
The demonstrations in Hong Kong are being led by three
of our relationship with China, just as it is with all countries
separate organizations—the HKFS, Scholarism, and
that we interact with around the world.… I described to him
Occupy Central with Love and Peace—but their control
why it is so important for us to speak out for the freedoms
over the protestors is reportedly limited.
the we believe are the universal rights that we believe are
the birthright of all men and women, whether it is in New
The Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) is an
York, or Paris, or Hong Kong.”
association of the student organizations at Hong Kong’s
eight largest universities. Its Secretary-General, Alex Chow
Congressional Response
Yong-kang, and Vice Secretary, Lester Shum Ngo-fai, have
Members of Congress have expressed concerns over the
also been major figures in the demonstrations.
situation in Hong Kong, and support for democratic reforms
in Hong Kong. Senator Marco Rubio wrote to Secretary of
Scholarism is an organization of high school and university
State John Kerry, urging him to “clearly speak out against
students. Its co-founder, Joshua Wong Chi-fung, gained
this recent decision by the NPCSC and to work with your
prominence in 2012 when he organized opposition to a
Chinese counterparts to ensure that Beijing does not further
“moral and national education” curriculum the Chinese
limit Hong Kong’s promised autonomy and its ability to
government wanted the Hong Kong government to
move toward full democracy.…” Senator Menendez wrote
introduce in Hong Kong schools. Wong helped organize a
to Chef Executive Leung, calling on him to “exercise your
rally of over 100,000 people after which the Hong Kong
leadership to guarantee your citizens, the people of Hong
government withdrew plans to introduce the curriculum.
Kong, receive the full democratic rights and freedoms that
they have been promised and which they deserve.”
Occupy Central with Love and Peace (OCLP) is a
grassroots organization established in March 2013 by
Current U.S. relations with Hong Kong are governed by the
Professor Chan Kin-man, Rev. Chu Yiu-ming, and
United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-
Professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting. It originally planned to stage
383; 22 U.S.C. 5701-5732), which provides that Hong
a large-scale sit-in in Central, Hong Kong’s main business
Kong will be treated effectively as a separate entity from
and financial center, if the Hong Kong government did not
China for many matters unless the President determines that
propose election reforms that met “international standards
Hong Kong “is not sufficiently autonomous to justify” such
in relation to universal suffrage,” including “no
treatment. Legislation has been introduced—H.R. 5696 and
unreasonable restrictions on the right to stand for election.”
S. 2922—that would deny Hong Kong separate treatment
unless the President certifies to Congress that Hong Kong
Non-violent Civil Disobedience
remains sufficiently autonomous to warrant such treatment.
Since the beginning of the protests, the three main
The legislation would also reinstate an annual report by the
organizing groups have remained committed to the
State Department to Congress about Hong Kong.
principles of non-violent civil disobedience. OCLP posted
on its webpage a “Manual on Disobedience” describing the
More Information
philosophy and rules of non-violent civil disobedience. The
For more information see CRS Insight IN10146, China’s
vast majority of the protesters have complied with the call
Leaders Quash Hong Kong’s Hopes for Democratic
for non-violence, and the organizers have trained members
Election Reforms; CRS Insight IN10114, Hong Kong’s
to intervene when tensions flare.
Summer for Democracy?; CRS Report R40992, Prospects
for Democracy in Hong Kong: The 2012 Election Reforms;
Obama Administration Response
and CRS Report RS22787, Prospects for Democracy in
Following the release of the NPCSC decision, State
Hong Kong: China’s December 2007 Decision.
Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki stated that the U.S.
government “supports universal suffrage in Hong Kong, in
Michael F. Martin, Specialist in Asian Affairs
accordance with the Basic Law and the aspirations of the
Hong Kong people.” On September 29, White House Press
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Protests in Hong Kong: The “Umbrella Movement” (Update)
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