Hong Kong Political Development Factors

Overview of Factors Affecting Hong Kong's Political Development

• Key factors in Hong Kong's political development include China, Britain, local elements, and international influences
• Hong Kong's political development turning points:
  • British colonial rule in the early 20th century (1900-1941) which included Japanese aggression
  • Japanese occupation (1941-1945)
  • Post-war political and institutional changes (1945-1967)
  • Extended scope of reform (1967-1984)
  • Development of representative government (1984-1997)

Importance of the China Factor

• Before the Sino-British Joint Declaration, Britain did not focus on localizing the civil service
• After the Declaration in 1984, promoting "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong" became a priority
• The British Hong Kong government then appointed local Chinese officials to key roles like Anson Chan and Donald Tsang in 1993 and 1995
• Post 1997, China heavily influenced Chief Executive selection
• The National People's Congress formed an electoral college appointing the Selection Committee's 400 members
• The committee then elected Tung Chee-hwa as Hong Kong's first Chief Executive
• Government Secretary positions were filled by local officers, enacting "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong"

China Factor and Representative Government

• The Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984 stated Hong Kong's 1997 return to China
• To prevent autocratic rule after the handover, the British aimed to develop a representative government and democracy
• The first Legislative Council indirect election occurred, and District Council official seats were abolished in 1985 to boost representation
• Governor Chris Patten's 1992 reforms restructured the Legislative Council, converting all 60 seats to elected positions
• China opposed these reforms, claiming Joint Declaration and Basic Law violations
• China established the Provisional Legislative Council, replacing elected members after the 1997 handover and altering political development

China Factor and Party Politics

• The scheduled handover motivated the British Hong Kong government to reform and build a representative government
• Voter requirements were relaxed, introducing democratic elements
• Individuals and organizations formed political parties to participate in Legislative and District Council elections
• Parties such as the Democratic Party, DAB, and HKFTU emerged
• The China factor strengthened Hongkongers' support for pro-democracy parties, with the 1989 Democracy Movement instilling fears of Chinese rule
• In the 1991 Legislative Council Election, 14 of 18 elected members were democrats
• Parties like the DAB and HKFTU received Chinese government backing
• In 1996, China organized the Provisional Legislative Council, with most legislators being pro-Beijing who later became original Legislative Council members

China Factor vs Britain Factor

• The China factor led the British government to pursue representative governance
• The British had been reluctant to empower the Chinese, fearing it would undermine colonial rule
• There were no Legislative Council elections until the scheduled handover to China
• The British government pushed reforms to make Hong Kong more democratic and prevent Chinese autocratic rule
• The British then accepted the political reform proposal

China Factor vs Hong Kong People Factor

• The China factor caused Hongkongers' full political participation
• China established the principle of "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong" with Britain, which in turn motivated British reforms to the political system
• These changes fueled enthusiasm among Hong Kong people to form political parties and stand for elections
• China's ability to directly intervene in Hong Kong’s political development gave it significant influence
• For example, China established the Provisional Legislative Council, replacing legislators elected in 1995 after the handover
• This influence was greater than local factors could achieve

China Factor vs Foreign Factor

• The British colonial government expanded local Chinese participation in the Legislative and Executive Councils following the post-WWII decolonization trend
• The British government absorbed notable Chinese into its administration due to the 1967 riots, which were fueled by the Cultural Revolution influences
• The China factor had greater political development influence
• Decolonization affected Hong Kong mainly in the 1950s and 1960s
• The China factor has influenced the region for half a century
• The Cultural Revolution prompted the British to introduce reforms, address discontent, and contain Communism expansion in the 1960s
• China's influence grew from the 1980s onward due to Hong Kong's pending return in 1997

British Factor and Political Development

• Until the 1997 handover, the British government had the authority over Hong Kong affairs
• Initially, Chinese people were excluded from senior positions, and voting rights were limited in the 1970s
• The government reversed its stance and started localizing senior positions in the 1980s, helping to increase Chinese in leadership roles
• Notable examples are Anson Chan Fang On Sang, who became the first Chinese Chief Secretary in 1993, and Donald Tsang who became the first Financial Secretary in 1995
• The British also introduced reforms in the 1980s, like reducing official seats and increasing elected seats in the Legislative Council
• The British government allowed Governor Chris Patten to reform the Legislative Council, making all 60 seats being elected in 1995
• This increased the Council's representativeness and showed British power over Hong Kong's political path

Local Factor and Rapid Population Growth

• The post-war baby boom and the surge of immigrants after WWII caused quick population growth in Hong Kong
• The population crossed 2 million by 1950 and caused the government to establish new departments
• They also recruited more civil servants to make sure administration was in effect
• The Social Welfare Department was created in 1958 and the Information Services Department in 1959
• Chinese civil servants numbers rose from 23,000 in 1952 to 48,000 in 1962
• By 1965, the population reached 3.7 million, requiring more comprehensive changes addressing society’s growing needs
• In 1972, the Ten-Year Housing Program began and a Public Assistance Scheme in 1973
• Those initiatives were meant to support those unable to afford a basic standard of living

Local Factor and Rise of Chinese Businessmen

• Economic and educational development fostered elites and businessmen like Ho Tung and Chow Shouson
• They had vast influence over society and backed British colonial administration
• Chow Shouson mediated during the Guangdong-Hong Kong General Strike from 1925 to 1926
• His role included going to China to resolve the conflicts between the British colonial government and the Guangzhou government
• These efforts resulted in his role as the first Chinese unofficial member of the Executive Council
• Prosperity and education after WWII brought a middle class that was politically aware
• This middle class becoming more vocal, demanded greater political rights

Local Factor and Demand of Hong Kong People

• Hong Kongers' discontent shaped the city's political development
• The 1967 Riots, for example, showed public dissatisfaction and convinced the government that more local Chinese needed to be integrated
• The government launched the City District Officers Scheme in 1968 and Hong Kong people formed parties participating in Legislative Council elections
• Figures like Lee Chu Ming and Szeto Wah were part of this, and the formation of these parties helped Hong Kong's political development

Foreign Factor and Japanese Occupation

• After Japanese invasion in Hong Kong on December 8, 1941, British rule ended
• On December 25, British troops lost, and Governor Mark Young surrendered, starting 3 years and 8 months of Japanese rule
• The Japanese stopped the Executive, Legislative, and Urban Councils and instead, established a military government in 1941
• The government was replaced by the Governor’s Office of the Captured Territory of Hong Kong in 1942
• Hong Kong was broken into three regions with 28 districts
• That approach set a precedent for how the British would later divide Hong Kong into 18 districts following

Foreign Factor and Decolonization

• The trend of decolonization increased following the Second World War due to the decline of empires like Britain and France
• More former colonies demanded independence, overthrowing colonial regimes, and attaining sovereignty in places like the Philippines in 1946 and Burma in 1948
• As Britain governed Hong Kong colonially, this trend promoted ideas of independence and discontent
• The British enforced social and political change after that, which helped to establish more Chinese people in leading positions within the administration
• Consequently, Chinese members increased from 3 and 5 to 11 and 10 in the Executive and Legislative Councils

British Colonial Rule in the Early 20th Century

• Chinese elites were appointed into the Executive and Legislative Councils
• Chow Shouson, who acted as a mediator during the Guangdong-Hong Kong General Strike, was appointed as the first Chinese unofficial member of the Executive Council in 1926
• Wei Yuk was set as an unofficial member of the Legislative Council in 1914
• The Sanitary Board was reconstituted as the Urban Council in 1936, responsible for municipal hygiene
• Ngan Shing-kwan was elected as the first Chinese member of the Council in 1946
• The government consulted Chinese associations when it came to local changes
• The Heung Yee Kuk was created in 1926
• Associations like Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and Po Leung Kuk also served as consultative bodies for the government

Policies Concerning People’s Livelihood

• The Peak District Reservation Ordinance in 1904, barred the Chinese in residing in the Peak District
• English was made the sole language, ignoring that most of Hong Kong were Chinese

Chinese Affairs

• Setting off firecrackers were set off in the New Territories in Lunar New Year

Reasons for Changes (Explain)

The Influence of Guangzhou

• People at the grass roots level had their hardships at the turn of the 20th century
• Strikes were commenced with Guangzhou's backing
• A Seamen’s strike took place in 1922 and the Guangdong-Hong Kong General Strike in 1925

British Factor

• The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory was signed in 1898 to lease areas around Boundary Street to Britain
• Locals of the New Territories were not receptive to British rule, for example, there was resistance to a policy requiring land payment for constructing houses
• The government carried out through Chinese leaders and associations such as Heung Yee Kuk

Local Factor

• Economic and education development opened up businessmen, which allowed them to help British colonial rule
• Chow Shouson, for one, helped the conflicts between British Hong Kong and Guangzhou Governments

Qualities

• The Governor-led Government Secretariats made all plans and legislations
• The Governor was above all due to Letters Patent, Royal Instructions and Colonial Regulations

Executive And Legislative Council Qualities

• Officials such as the Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary and Attorney General were members of the two Councils
• These councils were mainly responsible for approving the bills
• Only the Urban Council held elections in 1936 and were also responsible for assisting the Governor in decision-making
• The government allowed Chinese associations like the Heung Yee Kuk to help administration

Intervening In Chinese Affairs

• To leave traditions alone, Chinese lifestyles were rarely to be intervened, like during when setting off firecrackers
• As shown through the Peak District Reservation Ordinance in 1904, the Chinese were marginalized to a certain degree

Timeline For Japanese Occupation (1941 - 1945)

• The Executive, Legislative and Urban Councils and were all stopped after Japanese Occupation
• The Japanese set up the Office of the Captured Territory of Hong Kong in 1942
• The Office had civil, finance, economy and foreign affairs departments to manage Hong Kong
• Hong Kong was split into 3 administrative regions, and it was then split further into 28 districts further
• The ‘Two Chinese Councils' were then established in 194, such as the ‘Chinese Rehabilitation Committee'

Japanese Policies

• The local Chinese were forced to mainland China

British Defeat

• Japanese forces defeated Britain on December 8, 1941 after a 17-dya battle, Governor Mark Young surrendered and ended British rule

Foreign Relations (Japan)

• On December 8, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour and also invaded Hong Kong Hong Kong was captured in only a month, which was ruled as the Japanese Occupation

Characteristics and The Administration

• The demands of administrators were emphasized
• Food rationing system was installed
• Repatriation Scheme was introduced to rid influence of GMD and CPP in Hong Kong

Restrictions

• The Japanese had complete control following their takeover
• Food rationing system was put in place, the Repatriation Scheme was implemented and military yen was the currency
• Hong Kong was divided into regions and the system would be used for future administration
• The principle of ‘ruling Chinese with Chinese’ was applied which appointed Robert Hormus Kotewall and Chow Shouson as chairmen of the two councils
• Both were allowed to handle district affairs
• Japanese implemented Japanization policies to promote their culture

Post - war and Institutional Changes (1945-1967)

• Political reform was offered by Governor Mark Young in 1946 which was intended to give citizens a fair share in managing their own affairs’
• It suggested a Municipal Council be opened and to allow more unofficial Legislative Council members
• The plan aimed at decentralization and integration
• Decreasing numbers of official members and appointment of more unofficial Legislative Council members were set forward
• An office was created in 1963 to strengthen communications
• More governmental agencies, such as the Social Welfare Department were commenced

China and Communism

• Communism in 1949 made the UK in Hong Kong concern the spread of Communism

Other Key Details

• Rapid Population growth and the post-war baby boom made the government launch new schemes and aid to the local society
• China's presence meant decolonization meant that more reforms were needed
• The number count of seats in the Legislative and Urban Councils decreased In some cases like in 1962, local service were almost at 100%.

Scope of Reform (1967 - 1984)

• In the timeframe spanning 1966 to 1974, there was an increase Chinese appointees within the urban councils
• In the year of 1968, the City District Officer Scheme was launched Island-wide, HK was split into sections which would each have an official to collect opinions
• The Secretariat of Home Affairs would manage each district
• The city was divided into 18 sections
• The ICAC was launched to combate bribery within the government

Civil Service

• Numbers within the sector gradually improved
• In 1968, only 23 held administrative positions, compared to 91 just a decade later
• More policies were set to improve society regarding housing and compulsory education
• Chinese became a language to simplify communications

Explanations

• Social discontent, stemming from political affairs, inspired political discourse and bodies.
• The expansion of government made way for bodies and greater integration
• The number of official seats decreased, compared to Chinese politicians and a greater range of civil servants
• District Council was set in place to boost resident engagement - it required an almost full 10 years of living there

Development of Representative Government (1984-97)

• There was gradual reduction in official appointees.
• The first initial elections were held and the voting age was lowered
• More political discourse via the the start of new parties thanks to The Sino-British Joint Declaration

Hong Kong (1997)

• Britain would grant greater society and freedom
• A larger force and voice was becoming clear amongst society

Localization

• With the handover looming and a new era to bring, positions were being filled almost entirely by the Chinese
• Li Kwan HA became the first Chinese commissioner
• Anson became Chief Secretary
• There was an increase in Sino political bodies such as Hong Kong 1990 Hong Kong, the Democratic alliance to name a few