Crisis Management in Hong Kong

A Comparison of Governmental Response to the 2014 Umbrella Revolution and 2019 Anti-ELAB Movement

Abstract

The defining aspects of Hong Kong’s democratic development since its transfer of sovereignty in 1997 are encapsulated by two key events. Firstly, the 2014 Umbrella Movement was triggered by a Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (“NPCSC”) decision. It determined that while Hong Kong citizens could vote for its Chief Executive (“CE”), candidates must first be nominated by the Hong Kong Government and then approved by the Central People’s Government. Secondly, the months of mass protests (“Anti-ELAB Movement”) from 2019 to 2020 were sparked by the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019, colloquially known as the ‘Extradition Bill’.

Utilising the crisis framework developed by Boin et al., this essay intends to compare the handling of each crisis under the administrations of Leung Chun-Ying and Carrie Lam as Chief Executives of Hong Kong. This essay argues that Leung’s crisis management is significantly more effective than Lam’s, albeit Leung was also assisted by circumstances that benefitted his efforts.