Hong Kong Students Protest China's Policy

Students demonstrate at the Chinese University of Hong Kong campus in Hong

Kong, Sept. 22, 2014.

New words and expressions

boycott – n. to refuse to take part in something as a way of protesting nomination – n. the act of officially suggesting someone for a position compromise - n. the settlement of an argument where each side agrees to accept less than first demanded Chief Executive – n. The National People’s Congress – n.

Occupy Central

1. Thousands of students in Hong Kong gathered at ________ on Monday to begin a one-week  ________  of classes to protest against China’s decision  to bar open ________  for Hong Kong’s  ________ in ________.

2. Voters will be able to choose from a list of ________.3. A public opinion study showed that more than  ________

 of people were thinking about leaving Hong Kong. 4. Willy Lam says the Chinese government appears unwilling to

________  on the issue and has led to concern about the future of China’s ‘________’ policy.

Occupy Central

1. Thousands of students in Hong Kong gathered at Hong Kong University on Monday to begin a one-week boycott of classes to protest against China’s decision  to bar open nominations for Hong Kong’s chief executive in 2017 .

2. Voters will be able to choose from a list of candidates.3. A public opinion study

showed that more than 20 percent of people were thinking about leaving Hong Kong. 

4. Willy Lam says the Chinese government appears unwilling to compromise on the issue and has led to concern about the future of China’s ‘one country, two systems’ policy.

Tape script

Thousands of students in Hong Kong have begun a one-week boycott of classes.  The students are protesting China’s decision not to permit what they consider fully democratic elections in the former British territory. College and university students gathered at Hong Kong University Monday to start the boycott with a large demonstration. Hundreds of teachers have also promised support for the students.

Tape script

Boycott organizers are angered at China’s decision in August to bar open nominations for Hong Kong’s chief executive, its top official. The election is set for 2017. The National People’s Congress announced the restrictions last month. The restrictions mean Hong Kong voters will not be able to directly nominate candidates for the office. Voters will be able to choose from a list of candidates approved by a pro-China nominating committee. Hong Kong democracy activists disapprove of this system.  Currently, an election committee chooses Hong Kong’s top official. The political dispute has caused some people living in Hong Kong to consider leaving. The Chinese University of Hong Kong recently carried out a public opinion study. The study showed that more than 20 percent of people questioned were thinking about leaving Hong Kong because of its political future.  The last time large numbers of people left was before the territory changed from British to Chinese control in 1997.

Tape script

Willy Lam teaches at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He says the Chinese government does not want Hong Kong to become a center for anti-China activity. He says the Chinese government appears unwilling to compromise on the issue. This, he says, has led to concern about the future of China’s ‘one country, two systems’ policy. “So people now are generally very pessimistic about the future viability of the ‘one country two systems’ model.”      Mr. Lam says, however, that the people leaving Hong Kong are being replaced by mainland Chinese educated in the West.

Tape script

The Chinese University of Hong Kong study found that more than half of those questioned said they did not trust the Hong Kong or Chinese governments. Chinese officials had promised the former British territory a wide measure of self-rule, including voting rights, as part of the agreement to return Hong Kong to China. Some believe that promise is violated by the lack of open nominations for the chief executive position.