Democratic Development in Hong Kong - Timeline

Timeline

• July 1984 – Hong Kong government releases green paper on development of representative government, which proposes the introduction of indirect Legislative Council elections in 1985
• September 1984 – British and Chinese governments sign Sino-British Joint Declaration
• September 1985 – Indirect elections introduced to Legco
• November 1986 – More than 1,000 people join mass rally at Ko Shan Theatre, demanding faster pace of democracy after 1997
• May 1987 – Hong Kong government releases green paper on development of representative government, which suggests direct election to Legco as option for following year
• April 1989 – Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
• 1990 – Hong Kong Basic Law endorsed by National People's Congress
• 1992 – Governor Chris Patten announces reform package for 1994–95 elections
• December 1996 – Provisional Legislative Council set up
• May 1998 – First post-handover LegCo election held
• 1 July 2003 – 500,000 join historic march against proposed codification of Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23
• April 2004 – DAB spokesman Lau Kwong-wah set aside without explanation the party's 2012 declared goal for universal suffrage, one day after fellow DAB Chan Kam-lam had reiterated, while campaigning, the party's plan to amend the party platform for the third time to promise full democracy in 2012.
• 26 April 2004 – The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) rules out universal suffrage before 2012.
• 29 November 2004: A motion before LegCo proposed by Fernando Cheung calling for a referendum to gauge the views of the public on the introduction of universal suffrage in 2007–08 was scuppered by the pro-Beijing camp – DAB, the Liberal Party and the Alliance – by 31 votes to 20.
• 16 December 2004: Hong Kong government launches public consultation on electoral methods for 2007–08 elections
• 2005: Government proposal for 2007–08 elections vetoed by Legco
• Jul 2007: Government releases Green Paper on Constitutional Development
• 29 December 2007 – The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress deputy secretary general, Qiao Xiaoyang, visited Hong Kong to rule out universal suffrage being introduced by 2012. About 700 protesters marched to the Government House, where Mr Qiao was to brief lawmakers and district councillors on the decision.

• 1 January 2008 – Pan-democrats expressed regret about the rejection of universal suffrage in 2012, but said they would continue to fight for the early introduction of full democracy. They warned about "fake universal suffrage" being promised given that details of the 2017 and 2020 polls were not settled. Martin Lee said Beijing’s proposals were "full of blanks" and contained no concrete details. "I do not see Hong Kong with genuine democracy in 10 years more or 20 years more. It is just a mirage."

• 13 January 2008 – Pan-democrats gathered a petition of 10,000 signatures demanding universal suffrage in 2012. Pro-Beijing members have welcomed this decision to grant universal suffrage by 2017 as "expressing the wishes of the people", as has been written in the Chief Executive's report regarding democratic development for the Region. A peaceful protest against the National People's Congress Standing Committee's delay of universal suffrage to 2017 was held by 22,000 people. The march went from Victoria park to the Central Government Offices.

• July 2009 – The League of Social Democrats (LSD) proposed the 'Five Constituencies Resignation' plan in mid July 2009. They proposed that LegCo members of the pan-democracy camp resign according to the size of their caucus in LegCo: 2 members from Democratic Party, 1 member from Civic Party, 1 member from LSD and 1 member from the 4 independent democrats to force a de fact referendum on universal suffrage.
• 18 November 2009 – The Government published the "Consultation Document on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive and for Forming the LegCo in 2012".

• 21 December 2009 – Lew Mon-hung, member of the CPPCC said "Hong Kong is part of China, some people are mistaken if they think Hong Kong could have its own political system."

• 1 January 2010 – Thousands attend the 2010 Hong Kong new year march

• 26 January 2010 – As part of the Five Constituencies resignation, Albert Chan, Alan Leong, Tanya Chan, "Longhair" Leung Kwok-hung and Raymond Wong submitted heir resignations, with effect on 29 January 2010.
• 14 April 2010 – The government issued a revised package, to be put before Legco before the summer recess; Democratic Party counter-proposed 'one-person, two votes' model for Legco
• 2 May 2010 – 2010 March for universal suffrage
• 16 May 2010 – By-elections for the resigned legislators' seats; The five democrats who resigned earlier was voted to return.
• 26 May 2010 – Pan-democrats negotiation with Beijing
• 30 May 2010 – Act Now campaign
• 17 June 2010 – Elsie Leung corrected herself, saying the proposals did not contravene the NPCSC decision.
• 17 June 2010 – Audrey Eu and Donald Tsang televised debate
• 19 June 2010 – Li Gang, deputy director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, quoted (by Emily Lau) as saying the proposals did not contravene the NPCSC decision, effectively giving green light to the HK Government to endorse the Democratic Party proposal.
• 24 June 2010 – 'Amendment to method for selecting the Chief Executive' passes Legco by 46 to 13.
• 25 June 2010 – 'Amendment to method for forming the Hong Kong Legislative Council' passes Legco by 46 to 12.