The Basic Law, Universal Suffrage and the Rule of Law in Hong Kong

Abstract

For almost three months beginning in late September 2014, the people of Hong Kong filled the streets of their city and made world headlines with a dramatic series of large, peaceful protests that became known as the Umbrella Movement. The protests' sparks included a June 2015 PRC State Council White Paper on the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and the August 2015 Decision by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on electoral reform in Hong Kong. The former caused grave concern that Hong Kong's autonomy and rule of law were being eroded and the latter appeared to renege on promises of universal suffrage in Hong Kong. This paper explores Hong Kong perspectives on these developments and implications for Hong Kong's autonomy and the rule of law under the "one country, two systems" framework.

Keywords: Hong Kong, constitutionalism, rule of law, human rights