The Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

This book argues that Hong Kong has a unique system of democracy, and implies that the previous studies in comparative politics have focused excessively on the procedural aspects of democratization. The case of Hong Kong demonstrates that, substantively speaking, it is already a democracy with home grown characteristics, including the rule of law, judicial independence, a strong civil society, horizontal accountability, the complexities of using a civil disobedience movement in pushing for democratization, and the gradual progress in democratizing the election methods for the Chief Executive. The study of democratization in other parts of the world can perhaps focus on liberalization, the building up of the rule of law and judicial independence, and the utilization of social and political movements to exert pressure on the government to democratize the political system. This book is a unique contribution to the study of democratization in Hong Kong, with chapters including the legal tradition in Hong Kong, the features of Hong Kong's indigenous democracy, the 2014 Umbrella Movement, and the evolution of the Chief Executive election. Academics, journalists, government officials and students of comparative democratization and Chinese studies will all find this book useful.

The Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences