The Umbrella Revolution – or Occupy movement – unfolded shortly after our arrival in Hong Kong back in 2014, allowing all of us to get a fascinating glimpse into this fascinating and resilient place we have since grown to call home.

At that time, Hong Kongers were demonstrating for their right to universal suffrage. They occupied Central for several months, closing down main throughways in the business center of Hong Kong, with students setting up tents, holding classes with supportive professors, and creating makeshift recycling centers and solar powered energy to keep it all going. Some called it the “Occupy Central with Love and Peace” movement, as everyone pitched in, handing out water and cold packs in the excruciating Hong Kong heat and compassionately looking out after each other. It was the equivalent of shutting down 5^th Avenue in Manhattan for several months, blocking all traffic due to kids sleeping in tents in the streets. It was all pretty surreal. Towards the end, it stared getting rather nasty.

The demonstrators didn’t succeed in their main goal of choosing the head of Hong Kong. China says we can vote for anyone we want… then they pre-select the people eligible to be voted for and say “see, you can vote for any one of these people”.

Fast forward 6 years and as we prepare to leave Hong Kong, we bear witness – and take part – in the local demonstrations against the proposed extradition treaty with mainland China, Macao and Taiwan.  Unfortunately there have been a small number of protestors who have become violent and police who have been overly aggressive, using tear gas, rubber bullets, and batons to beat people.  Two people have died, unclear if by suicide or falling off a bridge.

As China does not have internationally recognized rule of law, and due to concerns for human rights, people don’t want China to have the power to try people they accuse of crimes. China could decree, for example, that a journalist in HK reporting on a political crackdown in China is breaking their laws…. and this proposed bill would allow them to bring that journo to trial in mainland China and would not be afforded the same sorts of legal and safety protections that are afforded in democratic countries.

There is so much going on and it directly impacts multinational businesses in the region too, so everyone should be concerned. The same press scenario described above could easily happen with a business executive if they speak out in any way in criticism of the Chinese government, or ruffle their feathers unintentionally, or break a “law” that isn’t written down anywhere.

Our hearts are with all of those in our adopted stomping grounds who yearn for the right to self-governance, maintenance of the rule of law, and the continued opportunities of free speech.  Things have changed so rapidly in just the short 6 years here and we feel deeply for our local friends and colleagues.