Jump to content

Hong Kong–Mainland China conflict

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Hong Kong-Mainland conflict)

16 June 2019 demonstration, at Justice Drive, capturing Queensway, Admiralty during the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests

The Hong Kong-Mainland China conflict refers to the tense relations between Hong Kong and mainland China. Various factors have contributed to this tension, including different interpretations of the "one country, two systems" principle; the policies of the Hong Kong and central governments to encourage mainland visitors to Hong Kong; and the changing economic environment. There is resentment in Hong Kong towards the mainland over convergence and assimilation, as well as the increasing interference from the government of China and its ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Hong Kong's internal affairs.

Background

[edit]

Political history of Hong Kong

[edit]

Hong Kong was originally ruled by Qing China. During the Opium War, Hong Kong was occupied by the British Army. The Qing government ceded the island to the British Empire in 1842, when the Treaty of Nanking was signed.[1] In 1860, after the Second Opium War, the colonial territory was expanded to include the Kowloon Peninsula. In 1898, the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory was signed to lease the New Territories. From 1941 to 1945, it was occupied by the Japanese Empire.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China on the Chinese mainland in 1949, Hong Kong remained a British colony. The colony maintained different political systems, greater press freedoms, and a culture influenced by its colonial history.[1] In 1972, after the change of the Chinese seat in the United Nations, the People's Republic of China joined the United Nations and gained political influence. In 1984, the Chinese and the UK governments signed Sino-British Joint Declaration. This laid out the terms for the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the PRC. The transfer concluded with a special handover ceremony on 1 July 1997.

Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China, which was not subject to the same laws or restrictions of the rest of the country. A series of guarantees set out in the Joint Declaration was enshrined in the semi-constitutional Basic Law of Hong Kong. These guarantees aimed to maintain Hong Kong's economic, political, and legal models after the transfer, and develop its political system with a goal of democratic government.[citation needed]

Rise of Localism

[edit]

After 1997, Hong Kong experienced problems integrating with the Chinese mainland over economic, cultural, and political issues.[2] On the economic side, the Hong Kong government pushed for several controversial policies, such as the Individual Visit Scheme, an integration plan with the Pearl River Delta, and the construction of high-speed rail.[3]

Both the Hong Kong government and Chinese central government pushed for continuing integration of the two territories, through principles such as one country, two systems.[3][4] In contrast, local groups defined Hong Kong as an independent city-state.[3] These points of discontent led to the economic and cultural protectionism movements in Hong Kong. Localism is the opposition to integrating Hong Kong with the Chinese mainland.[3]

Before the handover of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong intellectuals suggested providing resources to mainland China for modernization and promotion of freedom and progressive values. However, due to the rise of Chinese economic and political power, Hong Kong transitioned its approach to providing education, culture, and civic resources to China.

Localism rejected these efforts, calling to reserving resources for Hong Kong's issues and interests.[3] The democratic reform in the 2010s was also met with obstructions. Although the Hong Kong government attempted to move the electoral system towards universal suffrage, the pro-democracy camp of the Legislative Council rejected incremental progress. Localist Democracy advocates adopted an aggressive all-or-nothing strategy that directly confronted the central government and derailed any hope of moderate political reforms in Hong Kong.[5]

Cultural and ethnic tensions

[edit]
Hong Kong protesters threw eggs at Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping's portrait on 2019 National Day.

Hong Kong is a society under British influence that has different values, languages, cultures, and economic circumstances than mainland China. These differences, as well as issues regarding the allocation of resources between Hong Kong and the mainland, were widely considered to be the primary cause of conflict.[6][7]

According to the research conducted by Hong Kong Baptist University, a portion of the populace considered discrimination toward mainland Chinese morally justified due to localism sentiment, language differences,[8] cultural differences, and nostalgia toward British rule.[9][10]

Mainland Chinese people were called derogatory slurs, such as Cheena, the Cantonese pronunciation of Shina,[11][12][13][14][15] and wong chung, meaning locust in Cantonese.[16] The usage of the word began in Hong Kong local blogs and message boards such as HKGolden.[17] Its usage became prominent in 2012, when local residents paid for full-page advertisements, depicting mainland Chinese as locusts, on the local tabloid-newspaper Apple Daily HK.[9]

On Hong Kong university campuses, mainland Chinese students are often referred to as "Cheena dogs" and "yellow thugs" by local students.[18][19]

In 2013, the death of a female mainlander led to celebration and anti-mainland comments from localist online trolls on platforms such as Facebook, HKGolden, and Apple Daily, causing severe damage to mainland China-Hong Kong civic relations.[20] In a 2015 study, mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong who initially had a more positive view of the city than of their own mainland hometowns reported that their attempts at connecting with the locals were difficult due to experiences of hostility.[21] Due to the rising tribalism and nationalism in Hong Kong and mainland China, the xenophobia between Hongkongers and mainlanders is reinforced and reciprocated.[22][17]

Incidents

[edit]

Dolce & Gabbana controversy

[edit]
One of the four streets blocked during the D&G protest.

On 5 January 2012, Apple Daily reported that only Hong Kong citizens had been prevented from taking pictures of Dolce & Gabbana window displays at both of their Hong Kong fashion outlets, stirring anti-mainlander sentiment.[23] Staff and security personnel at the flagship store on Canton Road said the pavement area outside the store was private property, and photography was forbidden.

This sparked protests spanning several days, and gained international news coverage on 8 January.[24][25][26][27] Citing the case of Zhou Jiugeng (周久耕), a Nanjing official whose high-living lifestyle was identified by Chinese citizens using internet photographs, local news reports speculated that the Dolce & Gabbana photo ban may have been imposed at the request of some wealthy Chinese government officials. These officials may have feared photographs of them in the stores would circulate and fuel corruption allegations, as well as investigations into the source of their wealth.[28][29]

Kong Qingdong calling Hong Kongers "old dogs"

[edit]

In early 2012, Kong Qingdong, a Peking University professor, publicly called Hong Kongers "old dogs" in the aftermath of a controversy over a mainland Chinese child eating on the subway in Hong Kong. Kong's strong language prompted protests in Hong Kong.

Parallel business in Hong Kong

[edit]

Since 2012, there has been an increase in mainland parallel traders. These traders come to the northern parts of Hong Kong to import goods, then export them back to mainland China. Popular products include infant formula and household products.[30]

As a result of extended shortages of milk powder in Hong Kong, the government imposed restrictions on the amount of milk powder exports from Hong Kong. Beginning on 1 March 2013, each person is only allowed 2 cans, or 1.8 kg of milk powder, per trip in the MTR and cross-borders.[31][32] Since northern places like Sheung Shui became the transaction centres of the traders, nearby residents were discontented.[33]

Anchor babies in Hong Kong

[edit]

Until 2012, the number of anchor babies in Hong Kong was increasing.[34] Pregnant mainland women were seeking to give birth in Hong Kong. They aimed to benefit from the right of abode, and by extension social welfare in the city.[35] Hong Kong citizens expressed concerns that the pregnant women and anchor babies put a heavier burden on Hong Kong's medical system.[36] Some of them even called mainlanders "locusts" for taking away Hong Kong's resources from locals.[37]

Over 170,000 new births where both parents were mainlanders occurred between 2001 and 2011,[38] of which 32,653 births were in 2010.[36] CY Leung's first public announcement on policy as Chief Executive-elect was to impose a 'zero' quota on mainland mothers giving birth in Hong Kong. Leung further underlined that those who did may not be able to secure the right of abode for their offspring in Hong Kong.[35] Many of these anchor babies cross the border to attend school; there are approximately 28,000 daily cross-border pupils who attend school in Hong Kong but live in mainland China.[39]

Racial abuse of Hong Kong football team

[edit]

In 2015, the Chinese Football Association launched a series of posters relating to other Asian football teams. Among these, a poster appeared to mock the ethnic make-up of Hong Kong's football team with the words: “Do not underestimate the opponent. This is a team with black-, yellow- and white-skinned players, a diverse team that we must prepare for.”[40][41] In response, in subsequent matches between Hong Kong, Bhutan, and the Maldives respectively, supporters of the Hong Kong team jeered when the Chinese national anthem was played for the Hong Kong team.[42][43]

In April 2017, during a match in Hong Kong between Hong Kong club Eastern SC and Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, Evergrande fans displayed an "Annihilate British Dogs, Eradicate Hong Kong Independence Poison" banner during the game.[44] This resulted in them being fined US$22,500.[45]

Siu Yau-wai case

[edit]

In July 2015, localists including Hong Kong Indigenous and Youngspiration marched to the Immigration Department to demand deportation of an undocumented 12-year-old mainland boy Siu Yau-wai, who lived in Hong Kong for nine years without identification.[46] Siu, whose parents reside in mainland China, stayed with his grandparents after having overstayed his two-way permit nine years ago. Pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Chan Yuen-han advised and assisted the boy and his grandmother. He obtained them a temporary ID, and pleaded for compassion from the local community.[47] Some called on the authorities to consider the case on a humanitarian basis and grant Siu permanent citizenship. Many others, afraid that the case would open the floodgates to appeals from other illegal immigrants, asked for the boy to be repatriated. The boy eventually gave up and returned to his parents in mainland China, after localist pressure.[48]

Anti-mainlandisation motion

[edit]

On 19 November 2015, an anti-mainlandisation motion was introduced in the Legislative Council by lawmaker Claudia Mo, but was voted down with 19 in favour and 34 opposing. The motion sought to defend local history and culture from the influence of mainland China. Supporters argued that mainlandisation would lead to more counterfeit and fake products, rampant corruption, and the abuse of power, and Hong Kong risked becoming another mainland city. Opponents of the motion argued that the motion was seeing different cultures with a narrow perspective, and intended to split the Chinese nation and create conflict.[49][50]

CUHK democracy wall tensions

[edit]

In September 2017, tensions arose at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Mainland students, local students, university staff and student union staff disagreed over the content of posters and banners put up on the 'Democracy wall'.

Issues such as vandalism, disobeying rules, freedom of speech, displaying hateful messages, and respecting different opinions came into the spotlight. Similar incidents occurred at other Hong Kong universities; 'Democracy walls' appeared at Education University of Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This continued the Hong Kong Independence debate within Hong Kong society.[51][52][53][54][55][56]

2019–2020 Hong Kong protests

[edit]
Hong Kong protests on 16 June 2019

In mid-2019, several mass protests took place. A proposed extradition bill would allow dissidents to be arbitrarily transferred to mainland China. The organisers of a march on 16 June claimed to have included two million people, a quarter of Hong Kong's population.[57]

Throughout the summer and autumn, clashes between police and protesters occurred. Tolerance for differing opinions on the protests reportedly decreased in Hong Kong.[58] Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, mass protests were suspended beginning in early February 2020. After the pandemic, resurgence in protests was minimal, due to the 2020 national security law, but some sporadic protests still occurred.

Property acquisition by the Chinese government

[edit]

The Central People's Government (CPG) has acquired property in Hong Kong, albeit controversially.

The PLA Hong Kong Garrison's plans for the Central Military Dock have been contested by lawmakers.[59] The radar station at Tai Mo Shan was secretly opened, against the Garrison Law, which states that "the locations and boundaries of the military restricted zones shall be declared by the government."[60] In addition, Reuters reported that many military sites are underused and could be returned to public use.[61]

The Liaison Office has also purchased significant residential housing through its private subsidiary, Newman Investment. They have escaped paying stamp duties, even though Newman Investment is not registered as an organisation that serves the public.[62] Public taxpayer money has essentially subsidised purchases of housing by the Liaison Office. This means less housing is available for citizens.

Abductions of people in Hong Kong by Chinese authorities

[edit]

Beginning in 2015, mainland authorities have made multiple attempts to abduct people in Hong Kong and take them to the mainland.

On 26 May 2015, Gu Zhuoheng, owner of Sing Pao Daily News, was almost abducted by mainland authorities after landing at Hong Kong International Airport. While at the Regal Hotel, Gu said that more than 20 mainland authorities with firearms attempted to extradite him to the mainland; Gu resisted until hotel security guards called airport police to assist him. Hong Kong police confirmed the incident but then released the suspects due to "insufficient evidence."[63]

Lee Bo, a staff member of Causeway Bay Books, was abducted several months later, in December 2015, and taken to Shenzhen. The Hong Kong Immigration Department has no record of Lee leaving Hong Kong, meaning he was brought across the border without going through normal border control.[64]

In another incident in January 2017, Xiao Jianhua, a businessman, was abducted from the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong and taken to the mainland.[65]

Porous borders and smuggling

[edit]

Hong Kong is a free port and has no customs tariff on imported goods,[66] while mainland China does. This offers smugglers an opportunity to take advantage of price differences. Smugglers use speedboats to illegally bring goods from Hong Kong to mainland China without paying tariffs, including meat and ginseng.[67] Those arrested have included both Hong Kong and mainland Chinese citizens.[68]

In 2019, a total of 1,050 tonnes of contraband was seized by customs officers.[69] For the first six months of 2020, 2,500 tonnes of frozen meat were seized.[70] In January 2020, three Hong Kong customs officers were killed when their boat capsized during an anti-smuggling operation.[71] A cargo vessel, believed to have collided with the officers' boat, was found later with 1000 boxes of frozen meat, destined for mainland China.[71]

Smugglers have also used land-based vehicles to smuggle goods in Sha Tau Kok, a village in northeastern Hong Kong.[67][72] Additionally, Sha Tau Kok has a porous and blurry border through Chung Ying Street, where residents with a Frontier Closed Area permit can cross between Hong Kong and mainland China without going through normal border control. In March 2020, it was discovered that even though the Hong Kong government implemented a rule that those entering Hong Kong from mainland China must quarantine for 14 days to prevent the spread of COVID-19, those entering Hong Kong from mainland China through Sha Tau Kok were exempted from quarantine measures.[73]

HKU Student Union video

[edit]

On 1 September 2020, HKU Student Union's CampusTV released a "parody video" welcoming the new mainland Chinese students to HKU, which contained certain negative references to recent events. On 2 September, the university management of HKU condemned the video as bullying and hate speech towards mainland Chinese. On 3 September, CampusTV removed the video and apologised for "the inaccurate use of words and the misunderstanding caused", stating it did not mean to target anyone, but merely to point out the failings of the university management to the HKU students (through a parody video).[74]

Catholicism

[edit]

In October 2021, the Liaison Office met senior Hong Kong Catholic clergymen and briefed them on Xi Jinping's views on the "Sinicization" of religion, or the adoption of "Chinese characteristics" within established religions.[75]

In May 2022, retired Cardinal Joseph Zen was arrested by the national security police.[76] German Cardinal Gerhard Mueller said that Zen was being sacrificed to please Beijing, stating "This cardinal will be sacrificed on the altar of reason, to defend and implement the diplomatic agreement with Beijing. I foresee this risk and I feel pain."[77]

In July 2022, the Vatican's unofficial representative in Hong Kong, monsignor Javier Herrera-Corona, warned that religious freedoms were over in Hong Kong due to pressure from mainland Chinese authorities, with one person summarizing the monsignor's message as "Hong Kong is not the great Catholic beachhead it was."[78][79]

Impact

[edit]

Emergence of Hong Kong national identity

[edit]

Since the early 2010s there has been a major rise of awareness in Hong Konger self-identity, which was largely seen as a reaction to the gradual encroachment of the One country, two systems status-quo by the PRC government especially after Xi Jinping's rise to power in 2013.

In February 2014, the Undergrad, the official publication of the Hong Kong University Students' Union (HKUSU) published a few articles on the subject of a Hong Kong nation including "The Hong Kong nation deciding its own fate" and "Democracy and Independence for Hong Kong". Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying used his 2015 New Year's policy address to direct harsh criticism at the magazine for promoting Hong Kong independence, which in fact had little traction up to that point, fanning both the debate and sales of the book Hong Kong Nationalism which featured the articles

With reference to the survey conducted by a public opinion programme of the University of Hong Kong, the identity index of interviewees who regarded themselves as "Chinese" plummeted between the years of 2008–2014, from approximately 7.5 in 2008 to a continuous fluctuation within the range between 6–7. The drop in sense of national identity is believed to be the result of the aforementioned conflicts. The recent conflicts (anchor babies, D&G crisis,[80] and parallel trading) further contributed to the rise of local awareness in self-identity.

Exacerbation of conflicts between local and mainlanders

[edit]
Hong Kong 1 July march in 2014

There are differences in culture and political backgrounds between those from Hong Kong and mainland China. Hong Kong was ruled by the British based on the system of letters patent from the 1850s to 1997, whereas China has been under the control of the Chinese Communist Party from 1949 onwards.[81]

Some Hong Kong people see mainlanders as rude, impolite, and poorly educated. This further leads to locals' nonacceptance of mainlanders, especially when they travel in Hong Kong. Travelers from the mainland are coming in such tremendous numbers that their existence can influence the direction of government's policies.[82] The premise of various protests within the 2010s were related to the issue of the individual visit scheme adversely affecting the daily lives of Hongkongers. On the other hand, some Mainlanders view Hong Kong with suspicion, mistrust and increasing enmity.[83]

Some mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong who initially had a more positive view of the city than of their own mainland hometowns have reported that their attempts at connecting with the locals were difficult due to experiences of hostility and a sense of inferiority.[84]

Emergence of new 'localist' parties

[edit]

The 2014 Hong Kong protests led to the birth of new political parties. The pan-democrats encourage young people who participated in the Occupy movement to register and vote in the district council poll.[85] The first wave of dilettantes, about 50 in number, many of whom were millennials having political aspirations and disillusioned with the political establishment, and who were influenced by the Umbrella Revolution, contested the 2015 district council elections. Pitted against seasoned politicians, and with support only from friends and family, they became popularly known as "Umbrella Soldiers".[86]

During the 2016 Hong Kong legislative election, six localist groups which emerged after the 2014 Umbrella Revolution, Youngspiration, Kowloon East Community, Tin Shui Wai New Force, Cheung Sha Wan Community Establishment Power, Tsz Wan Shan Constructive Power and Tuen Mun Community, formed an electoral alliance under the name "ALLinHK" to field candidates in four of the five geographical constituencies with the agenda to put forward a referendum on Hong Kong's self-determination, while Hong Kong Indigenous and another new pro-independence Hong Kong National Party attempted to run in the upcoming election.[87] The student leaders in the Umbrella Revolution, Joshua Wong, Oscar Lai and Agnes Chow of Scholarism and Nathan Law of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) formed a new party called Demosistō.[88] The new party calls for referendum on Hong Kong's future after 2047 when the one country, two systems principle is supposed to expire[89] and fielded candidates in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon East.

Changing view of Hong Kong's development of democracy

[edit]

Due to recent tensions between Mainland and Hong Kong people, along with impact of the Umbrella Movement, different sectors of Hong Kong have shifted their view of Hong Kong's development of democracy.

Traditionally, the pan-democratic camp campaigned for democracy in China and Hong Kong, however after the Umbrella Movement, with the rise of localism, there were calls to make Hong Kong democratic first, then China or only focus on making Hong Kong democratic.[90] In recent years, localism within Hong Kong, has been gaining popularity of Hong Kong youth, this has led to new political parties and organisations being formed. Some Localist parties have taken the latter view of democracy, while others promote the notion of Hong Kong Independence, believing that only when Hong Kong is independent from mainland China can real democracy be established.[91]

Likewise, since the end of Umbrella Movement, the pro-Beijing camp as well as Mainland officials, along with CY Leung and Carrie Lam, have said that the development of democracy in Hong Kong is not a top priority and that the Hong Kong government should focus on livelihood issues first.[92][93][94]

Signs of mainlandisation in Hong Kong

[edit]

Since 1997, Hong Kong has been a part of China under the "one country, two systems" approach. Within Hong Kong society, there are different views of this arrangement. Within the political spectrum, the Pro-Beijing camp tends to focus on "one country" aspect, where Hong Kong will gradually integrate into China, while following and supporting the Central government policies as being a guarantee for stability and prosperity in Hong Kong. However, in the Pro-democracy camp, the focus is on the "two systems" approach, where Hong Kong, while acknowledging that it is a part of China and thus has an obligation to cooperate with it, should strive to develop more democratic institutions and preserve freedoms and human rights to achieve prosperity.[citation needed]

Over the years, there have been incidents of mainlandisation within some sectors of society are worried about the changing environment of Hong Kong.[95] Mainlandisation or Integration of Hong Kong is the official policy Beijing government and its Beijing supporters in Hong Kong are actively helping to promote its agenda, using their power to influence certain key decision-making choices within Hong Kong society.[96][97]

Language policies: promotion of Mandarin

[edit]

Under the Basic Law of Hong Kong, Chinese and English are the official languages.[98] In reality Mandarin is increasingly given more importance. In recent years, Mandarin has been increasingly used in Hong Kong, this has led to fears of Cantonese being replaced. In May 2018, The Education Bureau of Hong Kong stated that Cantonese is a dialect, thus cannot be considered a mother tongue language. This caused an uproar in Hong Kong, as it was seen as downgrading Cantonese in favour of Mandarin, and as the majority of Hong Kong people speak Cantonese as their first language.[99][100]

The use of English and its proficiency in Hong Kong has also suffered a decline in standards.[101] The promotion and growth of Mandarin over Cantonese and English in Hong Kong has led to questions being raised by mainlanders about Hong Kong's competitiveness in the global economy, its dependency on the Mainland's economy and its loss of a distinct cultural identity.[102]

Moral and national education controversy

[edit]

Moral and national education (abbr. MNE, 德育及國民教育; 德育及国民教育) is a school curriculum proposed by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong, transformed from the current moral and civic education (MCE, 德育及公民教育). The Hong Kong government attempted to pass the curriculum in 2012, which led to protests. The subject was particularly controversial for praising the communist and nationalist ideology of China's government on the one hand, and condemning democracy and republicanism on the other.[103]

Increasing self-censorship in the media industry

[edit]

Since 2002, Hong Kong's press freedom has significantly declined. In 2017, Reporters Without Borders, which examines freedom of press in 180 countries and regions, ranked Hong Kong at 73rd in the world,[104] a drop from 18th place in 2002, 34th in 2011, 54th in 2012, 58th in 2013, 61st in 2014, and 70th in 2015.[105] The organisation has China ranked at 176 and Taiwan at 45 – the highest ranking among all Asian countries in 2017.[104]

Hong Kong Journalists Association attributes this to increasing self-censorship within the industry, due to staff members not wanting to upset people in Beijing in fear of retaliation or loss of future opportunities.[106] Jason Y. Ng, writing for the Hong Kong Free Press remarks that, "The post-handover era has witnessed a series of ownership changes in the media industry. Self-censorship can also take the form of personnel changes, including management reshuffling in the newsroom and discontinuation of influential columns."[107]

Integration infrastructure projects

[edit]

In recent years, there have been many infrastructure projects and policies connecting Hong Kong to mainland China. The pro-democracy camp is suspicious of such projects, arguing that the mainland government is slowly gaining control and influence over Hong Kong, as this integration will eventually turn Hong Kong into another mainland city and make it lose its uniqueness. A focus of criticism is the minimum or lack of consultation from the Hong Kong people regarding these projects or policies, with many regarding them as 'white elephants' of questionable benefit. Another concern is the environmental impact of such projects as well as the high costs, with some projects going far over budget, with the costs being ultimately shouldered by the local taxpayer.[108] However the pro-Beijing camp argues that these projects are to help redevelop Hong Kong, help it maintain its competitiveness and provide new economic opportunities.[109]

List of Integration infrastructure projects:

One-way permits

[edit]

Since the handover, the one-way permit scheme, which allows 150 mainlanders a day to come to Hong Kong and Macau to reunite with their families, is administered by Chinese authorities, with Hong Kong and Macau authorities having no say on who can come in. Most of people on this quota end up going to Hong Kong. In recent years this quota has sparked intense debate on the positives, negatives and impacts it has on Hong Kong society. The Beijing government argues that the scheme is to prevent illegal immigration into Hong Kong and Macau.[citation needed]

The Pro-Beijing camp argue that these new immigrants are to help combat an ageing population as well as bringing new talent into the city.[110] The pro-democracy camp, however, sees the one-way permit scheme as a tool for Beijing to gradually change the population mix in Hong Kong and integrate the city with China. A majority of immigrants from the mainland tend to cast their votes in favour of pro-Beijing politicians during elections for district councils and the legislature.[111] Others point out, that too many immigrants are taking away resources from local graduates as there is more competition for jobs and housing.[112] This has led to calls from the pro-democracy camp to change or modify the scheme to allow the Hong Kong government to have a say in choosing which immigrants to come or final approval, while the localist camp advocate cancelling the scheme, saying this preferential treatment has put a strain on resources in Hong Kong and argues that immigrants from the mainland can come and settle in Hong Kong like any other immigrants from around the world.[113]

In at least one year, more than the so-called "maximum" of 150 daily mainlanders were allowed in; 57,387 mainlanders entered Hong Kong in 2017, averaging approximately 157 people per day.[114]

Curtailing academic freedoms

[edit]

In 2015, The University of Hong Kong governing council rejected the appointment of the recommended candidate Johannes Chan (Dean of the Faculty of Law 2004–2014) to the post of pro-vice-chancellor in charge of staffing and resources. The governing council's decision, the first time that a candidate selected by the committee has been rejected, is widely viewed as political retaliation for Chan's involvement with pro-democratic figures.[115] A majority of HKU Council members are not students or staff of the university, and many were directly appointed by then HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, the majority with Pro-Beijing views. The decision has received international condemnation, and is widely being viewed as part of a Beijing-backed curtailing of academic freedoms that will damage Hong Kong's academic reputation.[116]

Since the end of 2014 Hong Kong protests, professors and lecturers with pro-democracy views or sympathies have experienced media smear campaigns from pro-communist newspapers, harassment from paid Pro-Beijing mobs, cyber-attacks, unrenewed contracts, rejection of jobs or promotions, suffered demotions or blocked from taking senior management positions by university councils, where most members are appointed by the Chief Executive, who are loyal to Beijing.[117]

Undermining judicial independence

[edit]

The Hong Kong Bar Association has claimed that Beijing has undermined Hong Kong's judicial independence and rule of law through the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) interpretation of the Hong Kong Basic Law. These controversial interpretations have led to the legal sector of Hong Kong to stage rare silent protests over these interpretations and since 1997 four have been held. It is feared that China wants the Hong Kong's judiciary to become the same format and have the same characteristics as in the mainland.

The first march took place in 1999, when the NPCSC issued the first interpretation of the Basic Law relating to the issue of the right of abode of Chinese citizens with Hong Kong parents. The second was held in 2005 after the NPCSC interpreted a provision in the Hong Kong Basic Law regarding the chief executive's term of office. The third was held in June 2014 over Beijing's issuance of a white paper on the one country, two systems policy, which stated that judges in Hong Kong should be "patriotic" and are "administrators" that are supposed to co-operate with the Executive Branch of Hong Kong, whereas many in Hong Kong believe the Judiciary, Executive and Legislature are independent from each other, as is standard in Western democracies. The fourth march occurred in November 2016, over Hong Kong Legislative Council oath-taking controversy, with over 3000 lawyers and activists parading through Hong Kong in silence and dressed in black.[118][119]

In late December 2017, in response to the co-location agreement in West Kowloon, the Hong Kong Bar Association issued the following statement: "The current co-location arrangement is in direct contravention of the Basic Law and if implemented would substantially damage the rule of law in Hong Kong. The rule of law will be threatened and undermined if the clear meaning of the Basic Law can be twisted and the provisions of the Basic Law can be interpreted according to expediency and convenience."[120]

Political screening of election candidates

[edit]

During the 2014–2015 political reform period, after months of public consultations, the NPCSC issued its decision to allow Hong Kong to have universal suffrage in 2017, with the caveat that candidates would have to be approved by a nominating committee.[121][122] This triggered the 2014 Hong Kong protests, with many protestors calling it "fake democracy" and political screening that is not genuine universal suffrage.[123] The protests failed to deliver any concessions, but in June 2015 the reform package was voted down by a majority of the legislators, thus showing a lack of popular support for the political reform package.[124]

The 2016 Legco elections, 2017 NPC elections and 2018 Hong Kong by-elections saw potential candidates being disqualified by Returning Officers of the Electoral Affairs Commission who had been given the power to conduct unaccountable political screening. This resulted in the disqualification of six candidates in 2016, 10 in 2017[125] and a further three in 2018, who were claimed by the Returning Officers to have held "incorrect political views". These elections included a confirmation form where candidates have to accept Article 1 of the Basic Law and swear to uphold the Basic Law. The returning officers believed the candidates were not sincere about complying with Article 1 of the Basic Law (that Hong Kong was an inalienable part of China), thus they were disqualified. This was interpreted by Hong Kong Watch as indicating that there was no fair, open, certain and clear procedure to regulate the process, as the final decision rests on a civil servant's opinion, resulting in arbitrary decisions. In the 2018 Hong Kong by-elections, Agnes Chow was disqualified on the basis that Demosisto's advocacy of "self-determination" after 2047 "could not possibly comply" with Basic Law, despite her fellow party member Nathan Law being allowed to participate and winning a seat in the 2016 Legco elections on exactly the same election platform.[126]

In May 2018, the government announced that support for the Basic Law (particularly Article 1) would be required for all candidates for the upcoming District Council elections in 2019.[127]

National security law

[edit]

On 28 May 2020, China's National People's Congress approved the controversial national security laws for Hong Kong, which aim at cracking down protests and ban "any acts or activities" that the communist government considers to endanger China's national security. The critics have called this new legislation a "killer blow" to Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms. The legislation allows the government's national security agencies to operate in Hong Kong.[128]

National Anthem Ordinance

[edit]

In June 2020, a law was passed, making it an offence for those who insult the National Anthem of the People's Republic of China. In addition, the bill goes beyond insulting the anthem, as part 4 of it dictates that primary and secondary education in Hong Kong must incorporate the national anthem in their curriculum, including its singing, history and etiquette regarding it.

Electoral reform

[edit]

On 11 March 2021, China's National People's Congress approved the controversial electoral laws for Hong Kong, which aims to ensure a system of "patriots governing Hong Kong". The reforms expanded the number of seats in the Legco and Chief Executive Election Committee, but reduces the number of directly democratically elected seats. Hong Kong Government officials and pro-establishment figures have hailed the reforms as a way to shut out "anti-China" forces from the political structure whereas the pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong criticised the reforms as a "major regression" in democracy.[129]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Charles Custer (12 November 2019). "Hong Kong vs. China: What's All the Fighting About?". ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021.
  2. ^ Charles, Custer "China vs. Hong Kong" Archived 5 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine. "About News". Retrieved 30 October 2014
  3. ^ a b c d e "The Challenges to Hong Kong's "Greater China Mentality"". HKIEDNews. July 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Chinese government reminds Hong Kong 'who's the real boss' with white paper spelling out its interpretation of the region's 'one country, two systems' model Archived 3 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine", The Independent 12 June 2014
  5. ^ "What will Hong Kong's political reform vote mean? Archived 28 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine", The Guardian 16 June 2015
  6. ^ Yang, Joey "Why living in Hong Kong as mainland Chinese is no piece of cake" Archived 10 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine. South China Morning Post. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2014
  7. ^ 沈帥青 "搶完床位爭學位 怎令港媽息怒?" Archived 8 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine. HK Economic Times. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2014
  8. ^ Li, Amy "Is using simplified Chinese a sin? Hong Kong actor triggers war of words" Archived 17 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine. South China Morning Post. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2014
  9. ^ a b Wong, Wai-Kwok (2015). "Discrimination against the mainland Chinese and Hong Kong's defense of local identity". AChina's New 21st Century Realities: Social Equity in a Time of Change: 23–37.
  10. ^ Kuo, Frederick (18 June 2019). "The Hong Kong conundrum". Asia Times.
  11. ^ Huang, Zheping (14 October 2016). "I'm no China cheerleader, but Hong Kong lawmakers' use of a racial slur was offensive and unnecessary". Quartz.
  12. ^ Wu, Alice (16 October 2016). "Vulgar Legco rebels must be suffering from deep self-hatred". South China Morning Post.
  13. ^ Ng, Joyce (25 October 2016). "Hong Kong Legco president makes U-turn on oath-taking by localists". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Gov't argues in court that Youngspiration duo 'declined' to take their oaths as lawmakers – Hong Kong Free Press HKFP". 3 November 2016.
  15. ^ "港宣誓事件司法覆核開庭 港府律師:未要求釋法". Apple Daily. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  16. ^ "HK ad calls mainlanders 'locusts'". BBC News. 1 February 2012.
  17. ^ a b "香港與內地的融合" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  18. ^ Li, Audrey (11 October 2019). "The xenophobic undercurrents of the Hong Kong protests". Ink Stone News.
  19. ^ "岭大夜鬼嘈亲内地生投诉反被骂「支那狗」". Apple Daily. 23 October 2016. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016.
  20. ^ "Tragic death of young woman gives rise to anti-mainland Chinese sentiment". South China Morning Post. October 2013.
  21. ^ Xu, Cora Lingling (1 September 2015). "When the Hong Kong Dream Meets the Anti-Mainlandisation Discourse: Mainland Chinese Students in Hong Kong". Journal of Current Chinese Affairs. 44 (3). University of Cambridge: 15–47. doi:10.1177/186810261504400302. ISSN 1868-1026.
  22. ^ Hung, Yu Yui (2014). "What melts in the "Melting Pot" of Hong Kong?". Asiatic: IIUM Journal of English Language and Literature. 8 (2): 57–87. doi:10.31436/asiatic.v8i2.489.
  23. ^ 梁御和、盧勁業、伍雅謙 (5 January 2012). "擅禁途人拍照 玷污購物天堂 名店惡霸 D&G" [D&G the Tyrannical Luxury Shop Unpermittedly Forbids By-passers to Take Photos, "Shoppers' Paradise" Ashamed]. Apple Daily (in Chinese). Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  24. ^ "Protest at Dolce and Gabbana store in Hong Kong follows alleged ban on photography". News Limited Australia. 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Hundreds protest D&G photo 'ban' in Hong Kong". The Straits Times, Agence France Presse. 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  26. ^ "One thousand protest Dolce & Gabbana Hong Kong store over photo ban". The Daily Telegraph. UK. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  27. ^ "Dolce & Gabbana Photo Ban Sparks Protest". The Wall Street Journal. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  28. ^ "D&G事件起因 傳內地高幹投訴 怕被扯上貪污" [Alleged Cause of D&G Incident: Fear of Corruption [Accusations], Mainland Officials Complain]. Oriental Daily News. 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  29. ^ Moore, Malcolm (30 December 2008). "Chinese internet vigilantes bring down another official". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  30. ^ Jennifer, Ngo "Milk powder supplies still not meeting needs" Archived 17 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine. South China Morning Post. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014
  31. ^ "Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department – Import and Export (General)(Amendment) Regulation 2013 (with effect from 1 March 2013) – Quantity of Powdered Formula for Persons Departing from Hong Kong". Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  32. ^ Tsang, Emily; Nip, Amy (2 February 2013). "Two-can limit on milk powder to stop cross-border traders". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  33. ^ "近百名人到上水示威不滿內地水貨客" Archived 5 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine. now.com. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  34. ^ "The Fertility Trend in Hong Kong, 1981 to 2012" Archived 5 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine. "Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department". December 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2014
  35. ^ a b Luk, Eddie (17 April 2012). "Door shuts on moms" Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. The Standard.
  36. ^ a b "LCQ4: Obstetric services". Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  37. ^ "800人捐款 五日籌十萬高登下周登報促截「雙非」" Archived 5 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Apple Daily. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2014
  38. ^ (in Chinese)自由黨倡停發雙非嬰居港權 Archived 18 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  39. ^ "Parents fear cross-border pupil discrimination when Hong Kong schools return". South China Morning Post. 19 February 2020. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  40. ^ Charis Heung (17 June 2015). "Chinese Football Association apologizes for 'racist' poster". EJ Insight. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  41. ^ "Red card for racism waved at the mainland by HK" Archived 17 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine The Standard 10 June 2015
  42. ^ "Hong Kong Soccer Fans Boo Chinese National Anthem" Archived 17 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times 12 June 2015
  43. ^ "Hong Kong football fans ignore pleas not to boo China national anthem ahead of win over Maldives" Archived 18 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine South China Morning Post 17 June 2015
  44. ^ Michael Church, Sudipto Ganguly (27 April 2017). "Soccer: AFC charges Guangzhou for fans' 'British Dogs' banner". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  45. ^ "Guangzhou Evergrande fined, given suspended ban for 'British dogs' sign". ESPN FC. 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  46. ^ "Localism: Why is support for the political perspective growing – and who's behind it?". Time Out Hong Kong. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  47. ^ "Abandoned 12-year-old boy becomes legal after nine undocumented years in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. 21 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  48. ^ "Abandoned boy, 12, divides opinion in bid for Hong Kong residency". South China Morning Post. 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  49. ^ A warning against 'seeing different cultures with a narrow perspective’: Legco rejects anti-mainlandisation motion Archived 23 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine, South China Morning Post, 19 November 2015
  50. ^ "'Anti-mainlandisation' motion defeated in Legislative Council". Hong Kong Free Press. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  51. ^ "An all-out war of words: Where does free speech start and end in Hong Kong?". Hong Kong Free Press. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  52. ^ "13 student unions condemn chief executive and university authorities over campus banner controversy". Hong Kong Free Press. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  53. ^ "Poster mocking death of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo appears on Education University campus". Hong Kong Free Press. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  54. ^ "Beyond the profanities: Mainland students share mixed views on the Hong Kong independence campus row". Hong Kong Free Press. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  55. ^ "Heads of top universities call Hong Kong independence unconstitutional, condemn free speech 'abuses'". Hong Kong Free Press. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  56. ^ "In Translation: Students test the limits of poster power after university removes pro-independence banners". Hong Kong Free Press. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  57. ^ "How many really marched in Hong Kong? And how should we best guess crowd size?". Columbia Journalism Review. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  58. ^ Alice Yan (16 December 2019). "Hongkongers in mainland China say safety and friendships are on the line". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  59. ^ "Protesters and police in tense new stand-off at site of PLA dock". South China Morning Post. 29 June 2019. Archived from the original on 22 May 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  60. ^ "Hong Kong 'hands PLA radar station on territory's highest mountain in secret deal'". South China Morning Post. 23 July 2014. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  61. ^ "Hong Kong's underused military land a potential goldmine: but a minefield for government". Reuters. 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  62. ^ "Beijing liaison office 'has HK$3.4 billion property empire' in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. 20 April 2020. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  63. ^ "How I Escaped a Kidnap Attempt by Chinese Agents in Hong Kong". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  64. ^ "Hong Kong bookseller disappears: police say no record of him leaving — wife says he called from Shenzhen and 'will not be coming back anytime soon'". South China Morning Post. 3 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  65. ^ Haas, Benjamin (1 February 2017). "Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua 'abducted' from Hong Kong hotel". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  66. ^ "Exporting to Hong Kong". Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  67. ^ a b "Covid-19 curbs linked to surge in sea-smuggling seizures by Hong Kong customs". South China Morning Post. 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  68. ^ "Hong Kong customs seizes smuggled meat worth HK$3.8 million, arrests two". South China Morning Post. 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  69. ^ "Ninety arrested for smuggling 2,200 tonnes of meat". South China Morning Post. 23 April 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  70. ^ "Hong Kong seizes 2,500 tonnes of mainland-bound meat this year". South China Morning Post. 19 June 2020. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  71. ^ a b "Police seize cargo vessel over collision that left three customs officers dead". South China Morning Post. 22 January 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  72. ^ "Customs smashes smartphone and RAM smuggling cases at Sha Tau Kok Control Point (with photos)". Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  73. ^ "Historic Hong Kong border checkpoint sparks fears of quarantine loophole". South China Morning Post. 3 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  74. ^ "HKU Campus TV apologises over 'bullying' video – RTHK". RTHK. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  75. ^ Standard, The. "'Religion with Chinese characteristics' for Hong Kong as mainland theologians pay visit". The Standard. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  76. ^ "Hong Kong police arrest retired Catholic cardinal on national security charges, release him on bail". News Media Empire. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  77. ^ Standard, The. "Hong Kong cardinal among activists on trial over protest fund". The Standard. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  78. ^ Torode, Greg (5 July 2022). "Vatican envoy in Hong Kong warns Catholic missions to prepare for China crackdown". Reuters. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  79. ^ Standard, The. "Vatican envoy in Hong Kong warns Catholic missions to prepare for China crackdown". The Standard. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  80. ^ "禁拍風波後D&G向香港市民道歉" Archived 20 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. BBC. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2014
  81. ^ "History of the Communist Party of China" Archived 29 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Xinhua News Agency. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014
  82. ^ "通識攻略:文化差異引致中港矛盾?" Archived 10 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Sun Daily, 10 February 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2014
  83. ^ "Why HK bashing on mainland social media is bound to intensify". EJ Insight. 29 June 2015. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  84. ^ Xu, Cora Lingling (1 September 2015). "When the Hong Kong Dream Meets the Anti-Mainlandisation Discourse: Mainland Chinese Students in Hong Kong". Journal of Current Chinese Affairs. 44 (3). University of Cambridge: 15–47. doi:10.1177/186810261504400302. ISSN 1868-1026.
  85. ^ Cheung, Tony (2 February 2015). "How will Hong Kong pro-democracy protests affect district elections?". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  86. ^ "Introducing Hong Kong's 'umbrella soldiers'". BBC News. 23 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  87. ^ "青年新政等六組織 組聯盟戰立會 倡2021香港自決公投". Stand News. 10 April 2016. Archived from the original on 26 July 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  88. ^ "效法時代力量突圍 香港學運領袖擬組黨參政". Liberty Times. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  89. ^ "香港眾志成立 羅冠聰、舒琪、黎汶洛出選立會". Stand News. 10 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  90. ^ "Democracy in China not our responsibility: Hongkongers boycott Tiananmen vigil – Firstpost". Firstpost. 4 June 2016. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  91. ^ "The rise and rise of localism among Hong Kong youth". Hong Kong Free Press. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  92. ^ "'Political reform is dead,' says veteran commentator Joseph Lian". Hong Kong Free Press. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  93. ^ "Political reform will inevitably bring conflict, says leadership hopeful Carrie Lam". Hong Kong Free Press. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  94. ^ "Now not the time for Hong Kong electoral reform, says Beijing". 22 April 2017. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  95. ^ Hong Kong fears 'mainlandization' Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine, The China Post, 9 September 2011
  96. ^ "What the current political storm spells for Hong Kong's freedoms". Hong Kong Free Press. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  97. ^ "Liaison Office legal chief Wang Zhenmin: 'Hong Kong is part of red China'". Hong Kong Free Press. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  98. ^ The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Chapter I Archived 15 May 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Article 9.
  99. ^ "Cantonese a dialect, not a mother tongue, says Hong Kong Education Bureau supporting material on Mandarin". 2 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  100. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  101. ^ Arrest the undeniable decline in English standards in Hong Kong Archived 30 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, South China Morning Post, 19 November 2014
  102. ^ Declining English standard hurts HK Archived 3 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine, China Daily, 1 November 2012
  103. ^ Hong Kong fears pro-China brainwashing in education Archived 25 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, CBC News, 7 September 2012
  104. ^ a b "Hong Kong falls 4 places in 2017 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index; Taiwan freest in Asia". Hong Kong Free Press. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  105. ^ "Hong Kong press freedom sinks to new low in global index". South China Morning Post. 12 February 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  106. ^ "Perception of Hong Kong press freedom declines for second year, according to Journalists Association survey". South China Morning Post. 22 March 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  107. ^ "HK20: Hong Kong's fourth estate at stake – Trials of the city's free press". Hong Kong Free Press. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  108. ^ "Mainlandization: How the Communist Party works to control and assimilate Hong Kong". Hong Kong Free Press. 15 October 2017. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  109. ^ "The HK-Zhuhai-Macau bridge: An economic excuse for a political gamble?". Hong Kong Free Press. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  110. ^ "Mainland boost to counter aging concerns". Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  111. ^ "Is it time for HK to say no to the one-way permit scheme?". 21 August 2015. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  112. ^ "Too many mainly immigrants come into Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. 24 March 2017. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  113. ^ "Retake control of One-Way Permit from China, incoming pro-democracy lawmakers urge". Hong Kong Free Press. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  114. ^ "Home Affairs Department and Immigration Department Statistics on New Arrivals from the Mainland (First Quarter of 2018)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2019.
  115. ^ "How Johannes Chan is being preposterously smeared". 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  116. ^ "Hong Kong University Purge". The Wall Street Journal. 7 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  117. ^ "Unsafe harbour? Academic freedom in Hong Kong". Times Higher Education. 10 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  118. ^ Eric Cheung, Tom Phillips (8 November 2016). "Hong Kong: lawyers and activists march against Beijing 'meddling'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  119. ^ "Hong Kong lawyers to hold silent march over Beijing's decision to intervene in LegCo oath row". Hong Kong Free Press. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  120. ^ "Beijing's 'distortion' of Hong Kong Basic Law greatly undermines rule of law, legal experts warn". 28 December 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  121. ^ "China to Hong Kong: You Can Vote, We Select the Candidates". Yale Center for the Study of Globalization. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  122. ^ "Hong Kong government cements support for China's pre-screening of". Reuters. 7 January 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  123. ^ "HK vote candidates to be screened". BBC News. 22 April 2015. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  124. ^ "Bickering escalates in pro-Beijing camp over bungled Legco vote on Hong Kong political reform". 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  125. ^ "Civic Party lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki among ten disqualified from running for China legislature seats". 14 December 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  126. ^ "'Political Screening in Hong Kong': A report on the disqualification of candidates and lawmakers". Hong Kong Watch. 8 March 2018. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  127. ^ "區選封殺港獨自決派? 湯家驊:政局有變要從嚴". Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  128. ^ Kuo, Lily (28 May 2020). "Chinese parliament approves controversial Hong Kong security law". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  129. ^ "Explainer: 7 ways Beijing reduced democratic representation in Hong Kong's elections". Hong Kong Free Press. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.