WASHINGTON - Today, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Georgetown University Center for Asian Law (GCAL) released a report on the “Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong: Discontent and Rule of Law Challenges.” Drawing on new data and on-the-ground research, the report reflects the views of a broad, diverse group of stakeholders in Hong Kong across the political spectrum, from academia and civil society to political parties and the government.

“It is a critical moment for democracy in Hong Kong. Just last week, democratically elected lawmakers and pro-democracy leaders have been targeted and arrested, and Beijing has again pushed controversial national security legislation and sought to undermine Hong Kong's promised autonomy,” said Manpreet Singh Anand, director for the Asia-Pacific region at NDI. “While the COVID-19 pandemic may have temporarily dampened street protests, underlying tensions remain, and the people of Hong Kong will continue to demand their democratic rights. Our hope is that this report will serve as a road map to help all of those concerned about Hong Kong’s autonomy and the rule of law - including the government, protestors, and the international community -  realize the promises made to the Hong Kong people.”

“There’s really only one way to end the political crisis in Hong Kong,” said Tom Kellogg, executive director of the Georgetown Center for Asian Law. “The Hong Kong government needs to sit down with representatives from the protest movement to negotiate a resolution that is acceptable to all sides. Instead, the Hong Kong government is making a difficult situation much worse, by arresting the key pro-democratic leaders who could help find common ground.” 

Nearly a year after protests rocked Hong Kong, there remains an impasse between protesters and leaders in Beijing and Hong Kong. To bring an end to the political stalemate and social unrest, this new assessment offers a range of actionable recommendations, including: 

• Leadership in Beijing and Hong Kong need to acknowledge the legitimate concerns of the Hong Kong people. 

• Beijing should reaffirm its commitment to the One Country, Two Systems governing framework, and refrain from any further steps that would damage Hong Kong’s autonomy or undermine the rule of law.

• The Hong Kong government should offer to negotiate with representatives from the protest movement and build a framework to increase citizen input. 

• The Hong Kong government should establish an independent commission to investigate widespread allegations of excessive use of force by police. 

• The Hong Kong government should reaffirm its role as the representative body of the Hong Kong people. 

• The protest movement should commit itself to non-violence. 

• The people of Hong Kong should continue to tell the story of Hong Kong’s democracy challenges around the world. 

• The international community should continue to raise concerns about the rule of law in Hong Kong and to support civil society efforts in Hong Kong. 

This latest report, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy and other donors, is the seventeenth publication on the Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong conducted by NDI since the 1997 handover.  

To read the report in full, click here. 

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is a nonprofit organization working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide. Since 1997, NDI has periodically published assessment reports evaluating the status of democracy in Hong Kong, and has worked with local partners in Hong Kong to help its citizens realize the full potential of democratic rights enshrined in the Basic Law. 

The Center for Asian Law (GCAL) serves as the key platform for teaching and research on Asian law at Georgetown University Law Center. The Center for Asian Law is one of the top centers for the study of Asian law in the United States. Faculty, staff, and affiliated fellows publish regularly on cutting-edge topics related to Asian law and policy. The Center for Asian Law pursues on-the-ground legal reform work, in collaboration with Asian partners and with other Georgetown Law centers and institutes.