EPTIn 1997 the British handed control of Hong Kong back to China, marking the end of British rule after more than 150 years. In accordance with the One Country, Two Systems principle agreed between the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China, the socialist system of People's Republic of China would not be practiced in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and Hong Kong's previous capitalist system and its way of life would remain unchanged for a period of 50 years.
Everything you would want to know about this history can be found here: Wikipedia page
Naturally, this has lead to some insecurity amongst Hong Kong residents that they may lose many of the democratic and other benefits that they are accustomed to. There is a great sensitivity amongst the public here that has risen to the surface in recent months. The Chief Executive elections held earlier this year were a catalyst for protests, as there is fear that pro-China (ie. non-pro-Democracy) leadership in the country will begin infringing on the rights and benefits that people have become accustomed to.
Random article about this:
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Thousands of pro-democracy activists filled Hong Kong’s streets over the weekend, adding momentum – and no small amount of vitriol – to the most colorful political contest the city has ever seen.
“This is the most exciting election that’s ever occurred in Greater China, outside Taiwan,” says Richard Cullen, visiting law professor at the University of Hong Kong.
“Election” is a bit of a misnomer, as Hong Kong’s future chief executive will in fact be chosen on March 25 by a so-called election committee — a 1,200-member group dominated by pro-Beijing political and business elites. Although China has promised that Hong Kongers will have universal suffrage beginning in 2017, the government hasn’t offered a roadmap for what that will look like.
Brandishing yellow “People Power” banners, helium balloons and signs opposing the “small-circle” nature of the city’s elections, thousands of protesters surged into the city’s Chater Garden on Sunday afternoon after marching from Causeway Bay in an event sponsored by People Power, a pro-democratic coalition. Police estimated that 3,200 people protested.
“Everyone elected under this system is cursed,” said Vincent Cheung, an information-technology professional who turned out on Sunday to show his support for universal suffrage. “They will not be able to accomplish anything,” he says, because “they are only elected by a group of privileged people and are just representing the interests of those small groups.”
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang also found himself in the crosshairs, with protesters demanding his resignation over scandals that revealed he had accepted favors from local tycoons, including luxury yacht rides. Sunday in Charter Garden, protesters chanted antigovernment slogans and tossed fistfuls of fake paper banknotes — an offensive gesture suggesting that Mr. Tsang and other government officials’ souls are destined for the underworld.
One local writer and activist, Wong Yeung-Tat, waved an upright paper effigy of Mr. Tsang, so that protesters could “burn it and send him to hell,” he said.
“He should step down and go to hell,” he said. “He destroyed Hong Kong’s values and he needs to apologize for giving advantages to big businessmen.”
Mr. Tsang, who is under investigation by the city’s Independent Commission Against Corruption, is scheduled to retire from office this June.
In the meantime, the candidates vying to replace Mr. Tsang “just represent the election committee’s 1,200 people, not us,” says Mr. Cheung. “We want a real election, not a fake one.”
While Hong Kong lacks the popular vote, fierce public outcry against Beijing’s originally favored candidate — local business favorite Henry Tang — has nonetheless managed to clip the one-time front-runner’s wings, following a spate of scandals that left his approval ratings hovering around 16%.
In the coming weeks before March 25, there will still be “a lot of turbulence, a lot of uncertainty,” says Regina Ip, a Legislative Council member and former secretary for security whose bid to join the chief executive race fell short of the needed nominations last week. “This small-circle election is not proceeding according to script.”
Thousands of pro-democracy activists filled Hong Kong’s streets over the weekend, adding momentum – and no small amount of vitriol – to the most colorful political contest the city has ever seen.
“This is the most exciting election that’s ever occurred in Greater China, outside Taiwan,” says Richard Cullen, visiting law professor at the University of Hong Kong.
“Election” is a bit of a misnomer, as Hong Kong’s future chief executive will in fact be chosen on March 25 by a so-called election committee — a 1,200-member group dominated by pro-Beijing political and business elites. Although China has promised that Hong Kongers will have universal suffrage beginning in 2017, the government hasn’t offered a roadmap for what that will look like.
Brandishing yellow “People Power” banners, helium balloons and signs opposing the “small-circle” nature of the city’s elections, thousands of protesters surged into the city’s Chater Garden on Sunday afternoon after marching from Causeway Bay in an event sponsored by People Power, a pro-democratic coalition. Police estimated that 3,200 people protested.
“Everyone elected under this system is cursed,” said Vincent Cheung, an information-technology professional who turned out on Sunday to show his support for universal suffrage. “They will not be able to accomplish anything,” he says, because “they are only elected by a group of privileged people and are just representing the interests of those small groups.”
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang also found himself in the crosshairs, with protesters demanding his resignation over scandals that revealed he had accepted favors from local tycoons, including luxury yacht rides. Sunday in Charter Garden, protesters chanted antigovernment slogans and tossed fistfuls of fake paper banknotes — an offensive gesture suggesting that Mr. Tsang and other government officials’ souls are destined for the underworld.
One local writer and activist, Wong Yeung-Tat, waved an upright paper effigy of Mr. Tsang, so that protesters could “burn it and send him to hell,” he said.
“He should step down and go to hell,” he said. “He destroyed Hong Kong’s values and he needs to apologize for giving advantages to big businessmen.”
Mr. Tsang, who is under investigation by the city’s Independent Commission Against Corruption, is scheduled to retire from office this June.
In the meantime, the candidates vying to replace Mr. Tsang “just represent the election committee’s 1,200 people, not us,” says Mr. Cheung. “We want a real election, not a fake one.”
While Hong Kong lacks the popular vote, fierce public outcry against Beijing’s originally favored candidate — local business favorite Henry Tang — has nonetheless managed to clip the one-time front-runner’s wings, following a spate of scandals that left his approval ratings hovering around 16%.
In the coming weeks before March 25, there will still be “a lot of turbulence, a lot of uncertainty,” says Regina Ip, a Legislative Council member and former secretary for security whose bid to join the chief executive race fell short of the needed nominations last week. “This small-circle election is not proceeding according to script.”
With all this in mind, it was not surprising that it upset people when the Government of Hong Kong announced that they were planning to impose a "National Studies" curriculum. This would not be the biggest deal if it were a 1 year course - but it is a grade 2 to grade 12 requirement.
The two sides of the coin are as follows:
Hong Kong residents: This is Chinese propaganda. They are poisoning the minds of our children.
Hong Kong government: Hong Kong is part of China now - it only makes sense that Hong Kong citizens learn about China and learn to feel pride for Chinese accomplishments.
This has lead to protests and hunger strikes:
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Hong Kong protest over school 'brainwashing' by China
Thousands of protesters surrounded Hong Kong's government headquarters on Monday over a plan to introduce a pro-China school curriculum that they describe as an attempt to brainwash students.
![[image loading]](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02327/Hong-Kong_2327924b.jpg)
Chanting "No to brainwashing education. Withdraw national education", some 8000 people denounced a Hong Kong government-funded booklet entitled "The China Model" they say glorifies China's single Communist party rule while glossing over more brutal aspects of its rule and political controversies.
One hunger striker was taken away on a stretcher on the third straight day of protests after fasting for more than 40 hours.
The protests represent a challenge for Hong Kong's new pro-Beijing leader Leung Chun-ying, who took office in July, and who has come under pressure for policies that have highlighted underlying tensions as the financial hub becomes increasingly intertwined, economically and socially, with China.
Polls suggest Hong Kong public distrust towards China is at a record high some 15 years after the former British colony reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, with many fearing Beijing's hand encroaching increasingly into the city's cherished freedoms and political affairs.
Many of the protesters were young students who flocked to the demonstrations straight after their first day back at school, some heckling Leung to scrap the scheme or step down.
Hong Kong protest over school 'brainwashing' by China
Thousands of protesters surrounded Hong Kong's government headquarters on Monday over a plan to introduce a pro-China school curriculum that they describe as an attempt to brainwash students.
Chanting "No to brainwashing education. Withdraw national education", some 8000 people denounced a Hong Kong government-funded booklet entitled "The China Model" they say glorifies China's single Communist party rule while glossing over more brutal aspects of its rule and political controversies.
One hunger striker was taken away on a stretcher on the third straight day of protests after fasting for more than 40 hours.
The protests represent a challenge for Hong Kong's new pro-Beijing leader Leung Chun-ying, who took office in July, and who has come under pressure for policies that have highlighted underlying tensions as the financial hub becomes increasingly intertwined, economically and socially, with China.
Polls suggest Hong Kong public distrust towards China is at a record high some 15 years after the former British colony reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, with many fearing Beijing's hand encroaching increasingly into the city's cherished freedoms and political affairs.
Many of the protesters were young students who flocked to the demonstrations straight after their first day back at school, some heckling Leung to scrap the scheme or step down.
The most recent development, and the one which has spurned me to create this topic, is that University students are planning to mass protest the curriculum change. It was just announced on the news that the Chinese University of Hong Kong students unions/bodies are the first to officially agree to protest. I do not know where an english article is.
I am from Canada, where student protests recently lasted for many months in Quebec causing the cancellation of the school year, and I am recently arrived in Hong Kong to study at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on exchange. I have no real interest in this protest, and am worried that if it escalates to the same level that the Quebec protests did, this could compromise my ability to take classes while I am here, and ultimately force me to take another year of school in Canada as I will not have the exchange credits I need.
Does anyone know what the heck is going on?
Is the position of Hong Kong residents legitimate enough to potentially escalate to serious student protests?
Could class cancellation ever be on the table, or would the government rather let the protesters fail their classes?
Any insight people have would be awesome.
