41k was 2014 estimate, my mistake. It is 38.5k for 2013 though:
Hong Kong SAR, China | Data
Still far higher than Shenzhen.
China Hong Kong SAR: News and Images
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41k was 2014 estimate, my mistake. It is 38.5k for 2013 though:
Hong Kong SAR, China | Data
Still far higher than Shenzhen.
Jlaw
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Deng had great vision for China. Being pragmatic is good as it helped with development. I think China is strong enough to say that HK law should follow China's basic law. This free democratic election was a last minute blow by the British before handing back HK. If anything blame the Brits.
BoQ77
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Democracy isn't dead, say Hong Kong's Occupy Central activists
By Wilfred Chan, CNN
September 3, 2014 -- Updated 1110 GMT (1910 HKT)
Hong Kong denied full democracy by China
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Hong Kong (CNN) -- The struggle for democracy is not dead, say Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists, one day after their leader appeared to admit defeat.
The activist group Occupy Central had hoped that their threats of a mass sit-in in Hong Kong's downtown Central district would convince China to approve open democratic elections for Hong Kong's next leader. On Sunday, the Chinese government said the elections should only consist of candidates approved by a Beijing-backed committee, dealing a blow to democracy supporters.
Even the leader of the movement seemed deflated.
"Up to this point, we failed," Benny Tai, the co-founder of Occupy Central, told Bloomberg Tuesday. "What we planned is that we use the threat of the action to create the tension... Beijing refused to back down."
But Chan Kin-man, a fellow co-founder, told CNN on Wednesday that Tai's remarks had been misrepresented.
"We may not have attained that specific goal," he said, referring to the hoped-for reforms. "But we want to create a resistant movement in Hong Kong. As long as the democratic spirit continues in Hong Kong, we will not give up."
Beijing: No open elections in Hong Kong
Democracy for Hong Kong
Is Hong Kong in decline?
'We will occupy Central'
When Hong Kong, a former colony of the United Kingdom, was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, the two countries struck an agreement promising Hong Kong the democratic election of its own leader, known as the chief executive.
But the democratic reforms have not materialized. Seventeen years after the handover, the city's chief executive is chosen by a committee filled with Beijing loyalists, leading to frustration among pro-democracy Hong Kongers.
On Sunday, China's National People's Congress proposed the Hong Kong public be given the right to vote in the next election — but they would only be able to pick amongsta maximum of three candidates who have been approved by a Beijing-backed committee.
Read: Beijing says no to open elections in Hong Kong
The decision prompted Occupy Central, which wants any election to be open to all candidates, to announce that itwill stage a mass sit-in bringing downtown Hong Kong to a halt.
The group has yet to announce a specific date for its civil disobedience, though organizers told CNN it would be "soon."
Occupy Central's tactics are controversial.
Chinese officials have repeatedly said occupying Central would be an illegal act that would jeopardize Hong Kong's economic security. Hong Kong's own security chief has warned the protest could turn violent, and "things could get out of control."
In August, an "anti-Occupy" march organized by pro-government activists drew tens of thousands. "We want universal suffrage, but not at any cost," said its organizer Robert Chow.
'Ungovernable'
Hong Kong streets aren't the only thing that'll be paralyzed.
A group of 26 pro-democracy legislators has said they will vote down any undemocratic proposal. Without their votes, Beijing's reform proposal will not have the necessary votes to become a new law, resulting in gridlock.
"We are going to veto it to show our determination that we are not going to accept this fake democracy," said Albert Ho, a pro-democracy legislator who is involved with Occupy Central.
Li Fei, China's deputy secretary-general of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, has said Hong Kongers only have themselves to blame for lack of reform if they veto Beijing's proposal.
This has effectively set up a standoff between Hong Kong and Beijing.
Alan Leong, another pro-democracy legislator, said Hong Kong is becoming "ungovernable." Without a popular mandate, the next chief executive will face serious challenges as he or she tries to control an increasingly upset civil society.
As long as the democratic spirit continues in Hong Kong, we will not give up.
Chan Kin-Man, Occupy Central co-founder
"There will be a new age of civil disobedience and non-cooperation across the board," Leong told CNN.
But, he added, Hong Kong spiraling into chaos may also persuade Chinese leaders that robust democratic reforms are what's needed to regain stability.
"It's like a phoenix rebirth sort of thing. We're getting worse in order to get better."
International support
In recent days, Western governments have spoken up in defense of Hong Kong's democracy activists.
British lawmakers have announced plans to visit Hong Kong to conduct an inquiry into whether its handover treaty is being violated by China's actions.
But China's National People's Congress has responded angrily, calling the inquiry a "highly inappropriate act which constitutes interference in China's internal affairs."
In the United States, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. government "supports universal suffrage in Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law and the aspirations of the Hong Kong people."
"We believe that an open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by rule of law is essential for Hong Kong's stability and prosperity."
But Hong Kong's democracy activists doubt the United States or United Kingdom can make a big difference.
"I do not have much hope on these two governments in particular," said Ho. "Of course they should say something, if they still have the moral fiber to stand up to the strong economic pressure of China. They should know what is right and what is wrong... if they have the guts to do it."
Ho said he and other legislators are currently requesting an "urgent appeal" with the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations and the Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
By Wilfred Chan, CNN
September 3, 2014 -- Updated 1110 GMT (1910 HKT)
Hong Kong denied full democracy by China
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- China announced Hong Kong will not have open elections on Sunday
- Hong Kong democracy activists say they will stage mass sit-in protest
- Hong Kong legislators will veto China's reform proposal, resulting in gridlock
Hong Kong (CNN) -- The struggle for democracy is not dead, say Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists, one day after their leader appeared to admit defeat.
The activist group Occupy Central had hoped that their threats of a mass sit-in in Hong Kong's downtown Central district would convince China to approve open democratic elections for Hong Kong's next leader. On Sunday, the Chinese government said the elections should only consist of candidates approved by a Beijing-backed committee, dealing a blow to democracy supporters.
Even the leader of the movement seemed deflated.
"Up to this point, we failed," Benny Tai, the co-founder of Occupy Central, told Bloomberg Tuesday. "What we planned is that we use the threat of the action to create the tension... Beijing refused to back down."
But Chan Kin-man, a fellow co-founder, told CNN on Wednesday that Tai's remarks had been misrepresented.
"We may not have attained that specific goal," he said, referring to the hoped-for reforms. "But we want to create a resistant movement in Hong Kong. As long as the democratic spirit continues in Hong Kong, we will not give up."
'We will occupy Central'
When Hong Kong, a former colony of the United Kingdom, was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, the two countries struck an agreement promising Hong Kong the democratic election of its own leader, known as the chief executive.
But the democratic reforms have not materialized. Seventeen years after the handover, the city's chief executive is chosen by a committee filled with Beijing loyalists, leading to frustration among pro-democracy Hong Kongers.
On Sunday, China's National People's Congress proposed the Hong Kong public be given the right to vote in the next election — but they would only be able to pick amongsta maximum of three candidates who have been approved by a Beijing-backed committee.
Read: Beijing says no to open elections in Hong Kong
The decision prompted Occupy Central, which wants any election to be open to all candidates, to announce that itwill stage a mass sit-in bringing downtown Hong Kong to a halt.
The group has yet to announce a specific date for its civil disobedience, though organizers told CNN it would be "soon."
Occupy Central's tactics are controversial.
Chinese officials have repeatedly said occupying Central would be an illegal act that would jeopardize Hong Kong's economic security. Hong Kong's own security chief has warned the protest could turn violent, and "things could get out of control."
In August, an "anti-Occupy" march organized by pro-government activists drew tens of thousands. "We want universal suffrage, but not at any cost," said its organizer Robert Chow.
'Ungovernable'
Hong Kong streets aren't the only thing that'll be paralyzed.
A group of 26 pro-democracy legislators has said they will vote down any undemocratic proposal. Without their votes, Beijing's reform proposal will not have the necessary votes to become a new law, resulting in gridlock.
"We are going to veto it to show our determination that we are not going to accept this fake democracy," said Albert Ho, a pro-democracy legislator who is involved with Occupy Central.
Li Fei, China's deputy secretary-general of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, has said Hong Kongers only have themselves to blame for lack of reform if they veto Beijing's proposal.
This has effectively set up a standoff between Hong Kong and Beijing.
Alan Leong, another pro-democracy legislator, said Hong Kong is becoming "ungovernable." Without a popular mandate, the next chief executive will face serious challenges as he or she tries to control an increasingly upset civil society.
As long as the democratic spirit continues in Hong Kong, we will not give up.
Chan Kin-Man, Occupy Central co-founder
"There will be a new age of civil disobedience and non-cooperation across the board," Leong told CNN.
But, he added, Hong Kong spiraling into chaos may also persuade Chinese leaders that robust democratic reforms are what's needed to regain stability.
"It's like a phoenix rebirth sort of thing. We're getting worse in order to get better."
International support
In recent days, Western governments have spoken up in defense of Hong Kong's democracy activists.
British lawmakers have announced plans to visit Hong Kong to conduct an inquiry into whether its handover treaty is being violated by China's actions.
But China's National People's Congress has responded angrily, calling the inquiry a "highly inappropriate act which constitutes interference in China's internal affairs."
In the United States, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. government "supports universal suffrage in Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law and the aspirations of the Hong Kong people."
"We believe that an open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by rule of law is essential for Hong Kong's stability and prosperity."
But Hong Kong's democracy activists doubt the United States or United Kingdom can make a big difference.
"I do not have much hope on these two governments in particular," said Ho. "Of course they should say something, if they still have the moral fiber to stand up to the strong economic pressure of China. They should know what is right and what is wrong... if they have the guts to do it."
Ho said he and other legislators are currently requesting an "urgent appeal" with the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations and the Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Lux de Veritas
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terranMarine
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Beijing gave the order and HK is gonna comply
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I thought Greece is the oldest democracy lol
Jlaw
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When riot police come out, these HK protesters will disband. We all know these protesters too well.
Lux de Veritas
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实际上，不止香港，上海也是受害者。1952年的时候，上海的GDP是36.66亿元，北京是7.88亿元，上海是北京的4.65倍！萧何督建未央宫，刘邦抱怨太奢侈。萧何：天子四海为家，非壮丽无以重威。也就是说，首都不宏伟壮丽，不是第一大城市，皇帝会被人看轻，坏分子就容易造反。这就是传统中国的政治逻辑和城市伦理。
现在，全国城市整体上，尤其文化，学术全不及北京。北京人均GDP赢过上海。其实全中国在补贴北京。
Report: Hong Kong Becoming ‘Mere Second-Tier’ Chinese City
Report: Hong Kong Becoming ‘Mere Second-Tier’ Chinese City
The financial center’s specialness is in ever-greater danger.
Hong Kong is losing its edge as a global financial and commercial center, and the territory's economic clout will be overshadowed by China's major cities by 2022. That's the argument in an August 27 report released by Trigger Trend, an independent Chinese research firm based in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou. The report emerged just days before Beijing declared it would not countenance open nominations in the planned 2017 popular election for Hong Kong's chief executive, and its findings are likely to stoke further anxiety about the former British colony's economic and political future.
In the wake of Beijing's decision, Hong Kong's democracy advocates now face a hard choice between carrying out what some have called a "nuclear option" to occupy the city's Central financial district en masse, which could disrupt businesses, or swallowing what they call a "fake election" for the Chief Executive, the head of Hong Kong's government. Either way, Beijing says it does not plan to yield to acts of civil disobedience in the special administrative region, even if protests make investors or business owners jittery.
Hong Kong's annual GDP growth rate has hovered around two percent in recent years, while major regional centers in China have been growing at over seven percent per year. Hong Kong's 2013 GDP, at an estimated $261 billion, already pales in comparison to Shanghai's, at $354 billion, and Beijing's, at $317 billion. The report also states that at the time of its handover from the British in 1997, Hong Kong's GDP was 15.6 percent of China's national total; by 2013, the city's share had shrunk to 2.9 percent.
现在，全国城市整体上，尤其文化，学术全不及北京。北京人均GDP赢过上海。其实全中国在补贴北京。
Report: Hong Kong Becoming ‘Mere Second-Tier’ Chinese City
Report: Hong Kong Becoming ‘Mere Second-Tier’ Chinese City
The financial center’s specialness is in ever-greater danger.
Hong Kong is losing its edge as a global financial and commercial center, and the territory's economic clout will be overshadowed by China's major cities by 2022. That's the argument in an August 27 report released by Trigger Trend, an independent Chinese research firm based in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou. The report emerged just days before Beijing declared it would not countenance open nominations in the planned 2017 popular election for Hong Kong's chief executive, and its findings are likely to stoke further anxiety about the former British colony's economic and political future.
In the wake of Beijing's decision, Hong Kong's democracy advocates now face a hard choice between carrying out what some have called a "nuclear option" to occupy the city's Central financial district en masse, which could disrupt businesses, or swallowing what they call a "fake election" for the Chief Executive, the head of Hong Kong's government. Either way, Beijing says it does not plan to yield to acts of civil disobedience in the special administrative region, even if protests make investors or business owners jittery.
Hong Kong's annual GDP growth rate has hovered around two percent in recent years, while major regional centers in China have been growing at over seven percent per year. Hong Kong's 2013 GDP, at an estimated $261 billion, already pales in comparison to Shanghai's, at $354 billion, and Beijing's, at $317 billion. The report also states that at the time of its handover from the British in 1997, Hong Kong's GDP was 15.6 percent of China's national total; by 2013, the city's share had shrunk to 2.9 percent.
TaiShang
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Central gov't has final say on how to select HK leaders
China's central authorities formally announced how the election of the Hong Kong Chief Executive will be carried out in 2017, following a decision adopted at Tenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress (NPC) on Aug. 31, 2014. The same meeting also decided how the Hong Kong Legislative Council will hold its election in 2016.
Hong Kong is a pluralistic society with a high degree of freedom, thus the different responses to the Decision were both anticipated and understandable. But the Decision adopted by Standing Committee of the NPC, as a permanent organ that represents China's highest national authority, carries legal authority.
The Decision is significant in that it clarifies the bottom line on universal suffrage, considering the situation in Hong Kong, and it intends to promote unity and understanding in Hong Kong society. In this sense, the Decision quells unnecessary disputes and is a final say on this issue.
As a society built on the rule of law, Hong Kong has to accept the Decision which has national legitimacy, instead of dealing with it in irrational ways, such as "Occupy Central," which is an unlawful act punishable by law.
Also in a society with pluralistic interests, various interest groups naturally have different appeals for universal suffrage, but they should voluntarily modify their appeals as the central government has made a clear stipulation about how the political system should reform and develop, for the greater good of both Hong Kong and the whole of China.
Hong Kong society is inclusive and enjoys high level of freedom, which allows the expression of different views. But over a long time, a small number of people in Hong Kong have refused to accept the relationship between the central government and the special administrative region (SAR) government.
These people either fabricated contradictions between the "one country" and the "two systems," or purposefully misinterpreted the relationship between China's central government and the Hong Kong SAR, inciting discord in Hong Kong that challenges central authorities. Such behaviors are inconsistent with the basic political implications in the "one country, two systems" policy.
The characteristics of Hong Kong society will naturally breed various responses to the NPC Decision, including opposition. This also shows that achieving a consensus on this matter in Hong Kong will be difficult.
The NPC Decision has strictly followed the stipulations in the Basic Law; it is not a reckless move, and it has clearly rejected any attempts to shake off the Basic Law in Chief Executive elections. It shows the central authorities' resolution in advancing and safeguarding the rule of law and its dominant power in keeping political advancement in track.
But there are still a few more steps to go before universal suffrage in Hong Kong can happen, due to current institutional stipulations. The Chief Executive election methods have yet to be approved by more than two thirds of the members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. But the pan-democracy camp represents a critical minority in the Council and may hinder the process.
Much work is needed to be done to smooth out the roughness that prevents unity and understanding in Hong Kong society, before the election methods could be approved by the Legislative Council.
If the election methods fail to be adopted by Hong Kong's local legislature, universal suffrage may be postponed – a situation no one, including the people of Hong Kong, wish to see.
The central authorities have a clear notion about how democratic politics will develop in Hong Kong. Beijing actively supports the initiative while resolutely sticking to the bottom line.
Hong Kong society is witnessing severe differences of opinion about how to choose their Chief Executive. How the universal suffrage leads to the election of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR will require all stake holders in Hong Kong to come up with a concrete, more specific plan within the framework of the Decision, for the greater good of all.
The writer is a professor on the Basic Law in Shenzhen University.
The article was translated by Chen Boyuan. Its original version was published in Chinese.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
China's central authorities formally announced how the election of the Hong Kong Chief Executive will be carried out in 2017, following a decision adopted at Tenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress (NPC) on Aug. 31, 2014. The same meeting also decided how the Hong Kong Legislative Council will hold its election in 2016.
Hong Kong is a pluralistic society with a high degree of freedom, thus the different responses to the Decision were both anticipated and understandable. But the Decision adopted by Standing Committee of the NPC, as a permanent organ that represents China's highest national authority, carries legal authority.
The Decision is significant in that it clarifies the bottom line on universal suffrage, considering the situation in Hong Kong, and it intends to promote unity and understanding in Hong Kong society. In this sense, the Decision quells unnecessary disputes and is a final say on this issue.
As a society built on the rule of law, Hong Kong has to accept the Decision which has national legitimacy, instead of dealing with it in irrational ways, such as "Occupy Central," which is an unlawful act punishable by law.
Also in a society with pluralistic interests, various interest groups naturally have different appeals for universal suffrage, but they should voluntarily modify their appeals as the central government has made a clear stipulation about how the political system should reform and develop, for the greater good of both Hong Kong and the whole of China.
Hong Kong society is inclusive and enjoys high level of freedom, which allows the expression of different views. But over a long time, a small number of people in Hong Kong have refused to accept the relationship between the central government and the special administrative region (SAR) government.
These people either fabricated contradictions between the "one country" and the "two systems," or purposefully misinterpreted the relationship between China's central government and the Hong Kong SAR, inciting discord in Hong Kong that challenges central authorities. Such behaviors are inconsistent with the basic political implications in the "one country, two systems" policy.
The characteristics of Hong Kong society will naturally breed various responses to the NPC Decision, including opposition. This also shows that achieving a consensus on this matter in Hong Kong will be difficult.
The NPC Decision has strictly followed the stipulations in the Basic Law; it is not a reckless move, and it has clearly rejected any attempts to shake off the Basic Law in Chief Executive elections. It shows the central authorities' resolution in advancing and safeguarding the rule of law and its dominant power in keeping political advancement in track.
But there are still a few more steps to go before universal suffrage in Hong Kong can happen, due to current institutional stipulations. The Chief Executive election methods have yet to be approved by more than two thirds of the members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. But the pan-democracy camp represents a critical minority in the Council and may hinder the process.
Much work is needed to be done to smooth out the roughness that prevents unity and understanding in Hong Kong society, before the election methods could be approved by the Legislative Council.
If the election methods fail to be adopted by Hong Kong's local legislature, universal suffrage may be postponed – a situation no one, including the people of Hong Kong, wish to see.
The central authorities have a clear notion about how democratic politics will develop in Hong Kong. Beijing actively supports the initiative while resolutely sticking to the bottom line.
Hong Kong society is witnessing severe differences of opinion about how to choose their Chief Executive. How the universal suffrage leads to the election of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR will require all stake holders in Hong Kong to come up with a concrete, more specific plan within the framework of the Decision, for the greater good of all.
The writer is a professor on the Basic Law in Shenzhen University.
The article was translated by Chen Boyuan. Its original version was published in Chinese.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
What's full democracy?
does US have a full democracy or UK?
let ppl name selector is a chaos we can expert, like TAIWAN and INDIA
does US have a full democracy or UK?
let ppl name selector is a chaos we can expert, like TAIWAN and INDIA
act angry and take more cash, just like what happened in Ukraine this year early.
Why is this guy so angry while all the others are so emotionless save look a little bit bored?
He must have been fed with British made dog food. LOL.
TaiShang
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I guess that puny democracy thing is the last straw that certain minority Hong Kongers can hold on to to boast against the motherland. That's why certain minority groups are so hysterical about it.
Lux de Veritas
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DoTell
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On the other hand, if you are not the emperor, you just want to be the emperor. You brain wash others, instigate riots because you are "the people".
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