{
  "id": "R40992",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "R40992",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 377869,
      "date": "2011-02-01",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T01:06:46.523221",
      "title": "Prospects for Democracy in Hong Kong: The 2012 Election Reforms",
      "summary": "Support for the democratization of Hong Kong has been an element of U.S. foreign policy for over 17 years. The Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-383) states, \u201cSupport for democratization is a fundamental principle of United States foreign policy. As such, it naturally applies to United States policy toward Hong Kong. This will remain equally true after June 30, 1997\u201d (the date of Hong Kong\u2019s reversion to China). The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-8) provides at least $17 million for \u201cthe promotion of democracy in the People\u2019s Republic of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan ...\u201d\nThe democratization of Hong Kong is also enshrined in the Basic Law, Hong Kong\u2019s quasi-constitution that was passed by China\u2019s National People\u2019s Congress (NPC) prior to China\u2019s resumption of sovereignty over the ex-British colony on July 1, 1997. The Basic Law stipulates that the \u201cultimate aim\u201d is the selection of Hong Kong\u2019s Chief Executive and the members of its Legislative Council (Legco) by \u201cuniversal suffrage.\u201d However, it does not designate a specific date by which this goal is to be achieved.\nOn November 18, 2009, Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen released the long-awaited \u201cconsultation document\u201d on possible reforms for the city\u2019s elections to be held in 2012. The document was immediately met by sharp criticism from representatives of Hong Kong\u2019s \u201cpro-democracy\u201d parties. Five Legco members resigned on January 21, 2010, as a form of protest, forcing a by-election on May 16, 2010. The five incumbents were re-elected. \nOn June 7, 2010, Chief Executive Tsang submitted two motions to Legco increasing the size of the Election Committee (EC) for Chief Executive to 1,200 members and adding 10 new seats to Legco\u2014five elected by geographical districts and five elected by \u201cfunctional constituencies.\u201d \nInitially, the pan-democratic Legco members announced they would vote against the motions. However, a last-minute agreement between the pro-universal suffrage Democratic Party and the Chinese government led to a split among the pan-democrats, a coalition of parties that support a more rapid transition to universal suffrage. Legco passed both motions\u2014one on June 24; the second on June 25\u2014the first significant changes in Hong Kong\u2019s political system since the Handover on July 1, 1997. \nTo implement the election changes, Legco will need to pass enabling ordinances detailing how to carry out the election reforms. On December 10, 2010, Chief Executive Tsang submitted two bills to amend Hong Kong\u2019s election laws. The bill governing the election of the Chief Executive specifies how the additional EC members are to be allocated and sets the nomination threshold at 150 EC members. The bill governing the 10 new Legco seats will allow the Electoral Affairs Commission to determine how to allocate the five geographical seats (based on population projections) and establishes a \u201cDistrict Council (second) functional constituency\u201d to elect the other five new Legco members. Under the new law, every Hong Kong voter will be able to vote for at least one functional constituency member of Legco. \nThe 2012 election reforms are important to Hong Kong\u2019s democratization for two reasons. First, they are an indication of the Hong Kong government\u2019s willingness to press for democratic reforms. Second, the Chief Executive and Legco selected in 2012 will have the power to implement universal suffrage for the Chief Executive election in 2017 and the Legco election in 2020, if they so choose. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.",
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      "typeId": "REPORTS",
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc491204/",
      "id": "R40992_2010Jun18",
      "date": "2010-06-18",
      "retrieved": "2015-01-27T19:40:46",
      "title": "Prospects for Democracy in Hong Kong: The 2012 Election Reforms",
      "summary": "This report covers the importance of the democratization of Hong Kong to U.S. foreign policy as well as to Hong Kong itself. It specifically looks at two recent election changes which indicate the Hong Kong government's willingness to press for democratic reforms and also give more power to current government officials over incumbent officials.",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Politics and government -- Hong Kong",
          "name": "Politics and government -- Hong Kong"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Elections",
          "name": "Elections"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Democracy",
          "name": "Democracy"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Foreign policy",
          "name": "Foreign policy"
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          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Foreign relations -- China -- U.S.",
          "name": "Foreign relations -- China -- U.S."
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- China",
          "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- China"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc626972/",
      "id": "R40992_2009Dec10",
      "date": "2009-12-10",
      "retrieved": "2015-06-15T14:46:40",
      "title": "Prospects for Democracy in Hong Kong: The 2012 Election Reforms",
      "summary": "This report covers the importance of the democratization of Hong Kong to U.S. foreign policy as well as to Hong Kong itself. It specifically looks at two recent election changes which indicate the Hong Kong government's willingness to press for democratic reforms and also give more power to current government officials over incumbent officials.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Democracy",
          "name": "Democracy"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Elections",
          "name": "Elections"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Foreign policy",
          "name": "Foreign policy"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Foreign relations -- China -- U.S.",
          "name": "Foreign relations -- China -- U.S."
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        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- China",
          "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- China"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Politics and government -- Hong Kong",
          "name": "Politics and government -- Hong Kong"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Appropriations"
  ]
}