Socio-political participation in Hong Kong

Level of confidence of Hong Kong people

Will this affect the people’s willingness in participating in public issue?

Political apathy of Hong Kong people

• Borrowed space, borrowed time• 1967 riot• Hong Kong second generation• 1984 the Sino-British Joint Declaration• The return of Hong Kong to China• Economy-driven approach• … …

Are these true? Are these all?

Socio-political participation

• The aim is to influence government policies• We can observe the degree of power sharing

according to the effectiveness/result of the socio-political participation

(Up-down approach? Equal footing?)

A ladder of citizen participation P.80(different classification of socio-political participation)

• Citizen power• Direct involvement in policy formulation and election

• Tokenism• Conveying policy details, consulting the public, sending

government officials to meet with official• The government may/may not listen to us• No real power

• Non-participation• Public participation channels are lacking

BUT…what really matters is how the channels actually work (effectiveness)

A Ladder of Citizen ParticipationGovernment

Citizen

Power

Citizen powerNon-participation Tokenism

Official channel—Advisory and statutory bodies (R.B. P.70) Advisory and statutory bodies- Members are commissioned by the Government- Ratio between different interest groups- Including disadvantaged groups??- Agenda is set by the Government- Enough information?- Token

Effectiveness?? Any shortcoming??

Official channel--Public consultation (R.B. P. 72; article from Dr. Tai)

Public consultation• Sincere?• Enough time and chance for making compromise?• Will the government provide enough information for

discussion?

A Case Study of Queen’s Pier Incident

A Ladder of Citizen Participation

Nov

2006

•HK Gov’t announced it would tear down the Queen’s Pier, as part of the Central reclamation project.

Jan

2007

•Several civilian groups submitted different proposals to the government, asking for in-situ preservation. However, the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau turned them down.

Apr

22

2007

•Some people staged a silent protest, slept out on street, held a photo exhibition, and also collected signatures from supporters at the pier.

Apr

262007

•Queen’s pier was closed but conservationist insisted on staying at the pier.

May 9

2007

•Queen’s Pier was assessed as a Grade 1 Historic Building

27 Jul

2007

•3 conservationists began a hunger strike at Queen’s Pier for an infinite period.

Aug

2007

•1 Aug: Gov’t began clearing the pier area

•23 Aug: Queen’s Pier started to be torn down in stages.

Group Discussion

• Did the government carry out consultation for the policy of tearing down the Queen’s Pier?– In what way?

• Based on the video clips, Source 5,6,8,9 and Fig. 4.10 & 4.11…

• To what extent could HK citizens influence government’s decision in tearing down the Queen’s Pier (policy-making)?

Video clips

• http://evideo.lib.hku.hk/play.php?vid=3822646

• 是終結還是開始

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obEkWf86SGI&feature=related

Ref. Book p.76 (Fig. 4.10, 4.11)

Ref. Book p.77 (Source 6)

Ref. Book p.78 (Source 8)

Ref. Book p.78 (Source 9)

Election (R.B. Unit 5 P.89)

• Universal Suffrage ?• All adult citizens are entitled to equal rights to

vote and to be elected• Certain conditions for registering as either a

candidate or a voter, e.g. age limit, citizenship• In the spirit of democracy, these conditions

should be kept to a minimum

Direct, representative democracyDirect democracy• The participation of all citizens in the discuss and decision-making

process of public affair• It requires all citizens to fully receive and understand policy-related

information• Embodied in referendums (e.g. independence of Quebec , Sudan)

Representative democracy• Choose and authorize their representatives to discuss public affairs • Feasible in society of large population

Situation in Hong Kong?Combination of two forms of democracy

Theoretical criteria for a democratic election

Fairness—equal right• Have the right to be a candidate and compete for a seat fairly• Each vote should carry the same weight• No cheating, manipulation (protected by the election law)

Free• Citizens have the own right to make a decision• Ensuring different rights (freedom of association, assemble,

speech)• Citizens can receive adequate information

Major election in Hong Kong (P.92)

• District Council election• Legislative Council election (P.95)– Geographical constituency election– Functional constituency election

• Chief Executive election (P.100)

Direct democracy?Representative democracy?

2012 Hong Kong constitutional reform

2012 Hong Kong constitutional reform

Major concern: (P.102)The time frame for putting forward ‘dual universal suffrage’

(the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council)

Basic Law:Article 45Article 68

Unofficial Channels P.118Mass Media:- Any tools that transmit information to the public (P.118)- Pressure of public opinion- Freedom of speech- Absence of political censorship

Traditional forms VS. New form (Independent media)P.120YoutubeFacebook, twitterBlog

Self-censorship of traditional media

Importance of mass media

• Offer discussion platforms (awareness of social issues, learning about different viewpoints, exchange opinions)

• Interactivity• Autonomy (in the condition of…)

• Monitor the Government (mass media as the fourth estate)

Public service broadcasting and its functions P.124

• Neither commercial nor state-owned, free from political interference and pressure from commercial forces

• RTHK incident

• Because of self-censorship and a concern for commercial interests, traditional media may not be able to perform their functions fully

• Catering for the disadvantaged groups (no need to consider the profit)

P.123 Question 3

Traditional newspaper VS.

Online independent news siteP.124• Self-censorship• Concern for commercial interests• Political and commercial pressure• News reports are becoming increasingly biased,

exaggerated and entertaining

Space for public participation—Public sphere

• Lies between the private sphere and the sphere of public authority.

• Place for citizens to freely express and exchange their views

Public sphere < -- > democracy

• Conflict between private and public interests• Discussion in the public sphere, expressing

one’s views• Come to a mutual understanding• Reaching a consensus at the end• Everyone can have a fair chance to participate

in government policy formulation