Occupy Central 2.0

Initiator of the Occupy Central Plan Prof Benny Tai Yiu-ting brings in support from professionals from different sectors

2017 is a year of significance for all Hong Kong people as this is when universal suffrage will be implemented in Hong Kong as promised by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. However, the specific manner in which universal suffrage will be carried out remains a mystery.

On 16 January 2013, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Hong Kong, Benny Tai Yiu-ting wrote an article “Civil disobedience's mass destruction weapon” on Hong Kong Economic Journal, suggesting an idea of civil obedience in occupying Central. It is planned that in July 2014, 10,000 participants will block the roads in Central to pressure Beijing for democracy.

The plan of ‘Occupy Central’ received wide response from society. On one hand, Albert Ho Chun-yan of Democratic Party said he would resign from his post in the Legislative Council to let Hong Kong people decide in a de facto referendum to pave way for the ‘Occupy Central’ movement. On the other hand, Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai warned that Hong Kong would have to pay a “high price” in the event of a stand-off in Central. The response from the general public is yet to be seen but it is highly likely that the wider public’s involvement in the movement is going to be the key in the fight for democracy.