Volume : 4, Issue : 1, JAN 2018

THE FIGHT FOR UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE IN HONG KONG

SHIVANI SHAH, JAY NAGPAL

Abstract

This article aims to explore why Hong Kong's political situation is mostly plagued by the question ofa real democracy ever since its handover to China from Britain in 1997. For almost two decades now, pro-democratic peoplehave gathered in frequent protests as they demand Hong Kong should have universal suffrage in the election of the most powerful person in the state, the Chief Executive. Their main argument is that China's excessive involvement in the politics of the country has made the promise of democracy quite impossible. China, being a socialist country, promised to grant economic sovereignty to Hong Kong under the 'One country, two systems'. However, it is apparent that this promise has and will not be kept in the future as well.

Keywords

Basic Law, Universal suffrage, Democracy, Joint declaration and Legislation council.

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Article No : 8

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