Hong Kong's Indigenous Democracy

"Sonny Lo's book on Hong Kong is timely and breaks new ground in its examination of the challenges of political change in a society that since 1997 has been pushing for more democracy from China. This study of Hong Kong also offers keen insight into China's approach to political change and protest." Bob Beatty, author of Democracy, Asian Values, and Hong Kong

"A 'must read' for anyone studying Hong Kong's political system under 'One Country, Two Systems'. This book demonstrates that Hong Kong has developed into a democracy with home-grown characteristics' within the People's Republic of China. It provides an important case study of the politics of autonomy at the sub-national level an increasingly significant phenomenon in the contemporary world." Albert H.Y. Chen, Chan Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Hong Kong

"As an engaged public intellectual with local roots, Greater China sensitivity and global visions, Sonny Lo offers a refreshing and insightful reconnaissance of Hong Kong's troubled democratization of the past three decades. He pinpoints the omnipresent China Factor's crucial transformation from an external into an internal factor since the city's 1997 retrocession to China. He highlights key dimensions of Hong Kong's quest for indigenous democracy as a contest of divergent political cultures, competing interest blocs, and above all, Beijing's 'national security' obsession (i.e. the CCP-PRC party-state's survival) versus perceived foreign subversion via 'Trojan Horse' Hong Kong. An eye-opening chapter dissects the autumn 2014 Umbrella Movement as more than an unprecedented civic disobedience campaign for 'genuine universal suffrage' against Beijing's pre-screening of HKSAR chief executive electoral candidates but also as an upsurge in Hong Kong localism led by local youth against Beijing's paternalistic control. Definitely, this is a vital contribution to comparative democratization and post-colonial studies." Ming K. Chan, Visiting Scholar, Center for East Asia Studies, Stanford University, USA