Changes

==Government and political conditions==

==Government and political conditions==

The political conditions in Hong Kong formerly differed from that of the Chinese mainland due to the history of British [[colonialism]]. Hong Kong maintained a British colony for 156 years until 1997, whereby it was handed to China under the "one country, two systems" policy formulated by [[Deng Xiaoping]] and [[Margaret Thatcher]] in 1984. This policy supposedly means that [[classical liberal]] freedoms such as the [[rule of law]], [[freedom of speech]], [[economic freedom]].

The political conditions in Hong Kong formerly differed from that of the Chinese mainland due to the history of British [[colonialism]]. Hong Kong maintained a British colony for 156 years until 1997, whereby it was handed to China under the "one country, two systems" policy formulated by [[Deng Xiaoping]] and [[Margaret Thatcher]] in 1984. This policy supposedly means that [[classical liberal]] freedoms such as the [[rule of law]], [[freedom of speech]], [[economic freedom]].

In 2020 the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) was headed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who first took office in 2017. The Election Committee that votes on the Chief Executive (CE) is made up of approximately 800 Hong Kong residents from four constituency groups: commercial, industrial, and financial interests; professionals; labor, social services, and religious interests; and the legislature, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the P.R.C. National People's Congress.  

In 2020 the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) was headed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who first took office in 2017. The Election Committee that votes on the Chief Executive (CE) is made up of approximately 800 Hong Kong residents from four constituency groups: commercial, industrial, and financial interests; professionals; labor, social services, and religious interests; and the legislature, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the P.R.C. National People's Congress.  

In July 2002, the Hong Kong Government implemented the Principal Officials Accountability System, which was designed to make the government more responsive to public concerns. Twelve political appointees, directly responsible to the Chief Executive, run the 12 policy bureaus. Three other senior civil service positions—the Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Justice Secretary—are also filled by political appointments.  

In July 2002, the Hong Kong Government implemented the Principal Officials Accountability System, which was designed to make the government more responsive to public concerns. Twelve political appointees, directly responsible to the Chief Executive, run the 12 policy bureaus. Three other senior civil service positions—the Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Justice Secretary—are also filled by political appointments.  

In December 2005 the Legco rejected a Hong Kong Government-proposed package of incremental reforms to the mechanisms for choosing the CE in 2007 and forming the Legco in 2008. In July 2007, the Hong Kong Government's Commission on Strategic Development issued a Green Paper on Constitutional Development, which set out a myriad of options to reform the CE and Legco electoral mechanisms, with the "ultimate aim" of universal suffrage as prescribed by the Basic Law.  

In December 2005 the Legco rejected a Hong Kong Government-proposed package of incremental reforms to the mechanisms for choosing the CE in 2007 and forming the Legco in 2008. In July 2007, the Hong Kong Government's Commission on Strategic Development issued a Green Paper on Constitutional Development, which set out a myriad of options to reform the CE and Legco electoral mechanisms, with the "ultimate aim" of universal suffrage as prescribed by the Basic Law.  

 

On December 12, 2007, former Chief Executive Donald Tsang submitted a report on the Green Paper to the central government. The report said more than half of local people wanted universal suffrage by 2012, but 2017 might be a more realistic date. In December 2007, the P.R.C. National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) issued a decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development which, while ruling out universal suffrage in 2012, appears to open the way for Hong Kong to achieve full universal suffrage for the CE in 2017, and full universal suffrage for Legco sometime thereafter. Any amendments to the Basic Law will require approval by the CE, at least two-thirds of Legco, and then the NPCSC.  

On December 12, 2007, former Chief Executive Donald Tsang submitted a report on the Green Paper to the central government. The report said more than half of local people wanted universal suffrage by 2012, but 2017 might be a more realistic date. In December 2007, the P.R.C. National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) issued a decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development which, while ruling out universal suffrage in 2012, appears to open the way for Hong Kong to achieve full universal suffrage for the CE in 2017, and full universal suffrage for Legco sometime thereafter. Any amendments to the Basic Law will require approval by the CE, at least two-thirds of Legco, and then the NPCSC.  

In 2011- 2012, the government tried to implement National Education in Hong Kong but failed due to protests. While it may sound good to a [[Conservative]] [[American]], it has a bias slant towards China as it is missing key points in Chinese history like the [[June 4th incident]].

In 2011- 2012, the government tried to implement National Education in Hong Kong but failed due to protests. While it may sound good to a [[Conservative]] [[American]], it has a bias slant towards China as it is missing key points in Chinese history like the June 4th incident.

On June 1, 2012, Chief Executive Leung Cheng Ying replaced Donald Tsang as Chief Executive.

On June 1, 2012, Chief Executive Leung Cheng Ying replaced Donald Tsang as Chief Executive.

On September 28, 2014, police fired tear gas onto unarmed protesters that occupied major roads in the city centre. The protests were commonly known as the Umbrella Movement. The protesters were fighting for basic [[Universal Suffrage]] instead of SAR government's view of democracy which selects pro Beijing candidates by using the election committee consisting of 1200 mostly pro Beijing citizens in Hong Kong. Instead of ending the protests, the protests spread to other areas of Hong Kong including Mongkok, a place known for shopping and triad/ gang activity, Tsim Sha Tui, a shopping and tourist district and Causeway Bay, the Hong Kong version of the [[New York]] [[Times Square]]. The protests ended on December 15, 2014, due to the lack of support from the Hong Kong public, failed tactics and police clearance of the streets.

On September 28, 2014, police fired tear gas onto unarmed protesters that occupied major roads in the city centre. The protests were commonly known as the Umbrella Movement. The protesters were fighting for basic Universal Suffrage instead of SAR government's view of democracy which selects pro Beijing candidates by using the election committee consisting of 1200 mostly pro Beijing citizens in Hong Kong. Instead of ending the protests, the protests spread to other areas of Hong Kong including Mongkok, a place known for shopping and triad/ gang activity, Tsim Sha Tui, a shopping and tourist district and Causeway Bay, the Hong Kong version of the [[New York]] [[Times Square]]. The protests ended on December 15, 2014, due to the lack of support from the Hong Kong public, failed tactics and police clearance of the streets.

In 2019, Hong Kong was besieged by protests of hundreds and thousands of people against an extradition bill. Opponents of the proposed law claim that it violates the "one country, two systems" policy, and that such extradition would allow political opponents to be extradited to mainland China, where their rights are not protected to the same level as in Hong Kong, citing arrests from the 2014 protests as precedent.<ref>Lily Kuo and Verna Yu. July 25, 2019. [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/10/what-are-the-hong-kong-protests-about-explainer "What are the Hong Kong protests about?".] ''The Guardian''.</ref>

In 2019, Hong Kong was besieged by protests of hundreds and thousands of people against an extradition bill. Opponents of the proposed law claim that it violates the "one country, two systems" policy, and that such extradition would allow political opponents to be extradited to mainland China, where their rights are not protected to the same level as in Hong Kong, citing arrests from the 2014 protests as precedent.<ref>Lily Kuo and Verna Yu. July 25, 2019. [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/10/what-are-the-hong-kong-protests-about-explainer "What are the Hong Kong protests about?".] ''The Guardian''.</ref>