Hong Kong-China relations over three decades of change: From apprehension to integration to clashes

The Umbrella Movement, which took place in Hong Kong between 26 September and 15 December 2014, was indisputably a defining moment in the former colony. The authors argue that the Umbrella Movement was not a single, contingent political incident. Rather it represented a structural change in Hongkongers’ perceived relations with the Chinese government, which was deeply connected with the change of specific cultural, economic and political factors pertinent to Hong Kong society in the past three decades. In conclusion, the authors suggest that Hongkongers’ cultural perception of the closing-in of the central government’s power is a key determinant of the perception of Hong Kong-China relations.