A look at the people of Hong Kong's efforts toward democratic reform since the territory's handover to China from Britain in 1997.
FILE - In this file photo taken Tuesday, July 1, 1997, then Hong Kong's newly inaugurated Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, right, receives a book bearing a picture of a statue from then Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen during a ceremony in Hong Kong. On July 1, 1997, Tung Chee-Hwa, the first chief executive of Hong Kong, declared: "For the first time in history, we, the people of Hong Kong, will be master of our own destiny.
Despite that promise, Hong Kong’s agency has been tested, reinforced and challenged again in the succeeding years, most recently this week, which witnessed what may have been the largest protest since Hong Kong became Chinese territory again.2003: NATIONAL SECURITY In a bid to accelerate a decision on universal suffrage, five lawmakers resigned. But this act was followed by the adoption of Beijing-backed electoral changes which expanded the chief executive’s selection committee and added more seats for lawmakers elected by direct vote. The legislation divided Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp, as some supported the reforms while others said it would only delay full democracy while reinforcing a structure that favors Beijing.
In June 2015, Hong Kong legislators formally rejected the bill, and electoral reform has been stalled since then. The current chief executive, Carrie Lam, widely seen as the Chinese Communist Party’s favored candidate, was hand-picked in 2017 by a 1,200-person committee dominated by pro-Beijing elites.Lam is pushing forward amendments to extradition laws that would allow people to be sent to mainland China to face charges.
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