Events
On December 13, EAI held a roundtable discussion under the title of “Power and Resistance in Hong Kong: The Dynamics of the Umbrella Movement.” The roundtable primarily discussed the mass movements of Hong Kong, the meaning of the Hong Kong protests in a historical context, political divisions within Hong Kong, and the co-optation policy of mainland China. Professor Stan Wong of the Chinese University of Hong Kong emphasized that the Umbrella Movement was nationwide, which elicited the participation and support from the public as well as students. He also explained the narrowing gap between the pan-democratic and pro-establishment parties and its causes, which are based on election results from 1998 to 2012. Wong warned that the Umbrella Movement could deteriorate into a “July 1, 2003 Protest 2.0,” because of the biased tendency toward political ideology and the conflicts between moderates and radicals; thus, pro-democracy power in Hong Kong is being marginalized. Professor Ray Yep of City University of Hong Kong highlighted that the Umbrella Movement gained momentum in disclosing the damaged democracy in Hong Kong to the international community through the power of the public, even though they could not achieve democratization. Yep predicts that China will enhance its interference in Hong Kong rather than maintain the existing policy of "stay behind the scenes." In addition, he purports that as China's interference intensifies, Hong Kong exceptionalism will disappear as well.
| Program |
| 13:00-13:10 |
Opening Remarks JUNG Joo-Youn, Korea University |
| 13:10-14:30 |
Session I. “Protest and Patronage: Electoral Politics in Post-1997 Hong Kong”
Presenter Moderator |
| 14:30-14:50 |
Break |
| 14:50-16:10 |
Session II. “Umbrella Movement: Generational Divide and Prospect of Democracy in Hong Kong” Presenter Moderator Discussants |