The Future of Democracy in Hong Kong

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China's Senator Sherrod Brown, Chairman and Representative and Christopher Smith, Cochairman will hold a hearing on the 2014 Hong Kong protests.

The ongoing demonstrations in Hong Kong have focused global attention on Hong Kong’s debate over the future of its political system. This hearing will examine China’s commitments to Hong Kong and the international community in light of the recent pro-democracy protests. Will an increasingly polarized Hong Kong be able to find a mutually acceptable plan for electoral reform? How will the protests continue to shape the debate? And what do the protests mean for the future of human rights and democracy in Hong Kong and China?

Witnesses:

The Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes CH: 28th Governor of Hong Kong, 1992-1997; Chancellor, University of Oxford. (Appearing live via video teleconference).

Victoria Tin-bor Hui, Ph.D.: Associate Professor, Department of Political Science; Faculty Fellow, Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, University of Notre Dame.

Ambassador Mark P. Lagon, Ph.D.: Global Politics and Security Chair, Master of Science in Foreign Service Program, Georgetown University; Adjunct Senior Fellow for Human Rights, Council on Foreign Relations; incoming President, Freedom House.

Richard C. Bush III, Ph.D.: Senior Fellow; Director, Center for East Asia Policy Studies; Chen-Fu and Cecilia Yen Koo Chair in Taiwan Studies, The Brookings Institution.

This hearing will be webcast live here.

Press Inquiries: Scott Flipse 202-226-3777

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China, established by the U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 as China prepared to enter the World Trade Organization, is mandated by law to monitor human rights, including worker rights, and the development of the rule of law in China. The Commission by mandate also maintains a database of information on political prisoners in China-individuals who have been imprisoned by the Chinese government for exercising their civil and political rights under China's Constitution and laws or under China's international human rights obligations. All of the Commission's reporting and its Political Prisoner Database are available to the public online via the Commission's Web site, http://www.cecc.gov.