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Sino-British Joint Declaration
Basic Law and "one country, two systems" mantra established with the British aagreement to handover HK back to China in 1997, on the basis that democratic policies will remain in HK for 50 years (until 2047). -
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square Massacre. HK worried about the future of democracy and Basic Law. -
Handover
Hong Kong handed back over to China. HKSAR established. -
Foundations
Beijing rejects open nominations for presidential elections. -
Foundations
Class boycotts begin across Hong Kong's secondary schools and universities. -
Foundations
Following the publication of the "White Paper" in which Beijin exerts control over democratic elections in Hong Kong by dictating the possible candidates, student protests begin to emerge led by Joshua Wong and his group "Scholarism" and Occupy Central decides to join the student led protests over protesting over the limitations placed on the elections in 2017. -
Occupy protestors and Beijing response
In response to the Occupy Central protests that an estimated 100,000 protestors marched in against the elections to be held in 2017, Bejing rules out "open 2017 elections." Occupy protestors explain they are in for a long fight. -
Occupy Joins Student groups: "Umbrella Revolution" Begins
Occupy Central organizers admit that their movement has failed to garner public support so they decide to back the student protests. Announce that there will be a sit in on Oct. 1, "National Day." Protestors occupy several sections of Hong Kong, including Admiralty, Central, TST, and Mong Kok. Protests are broken up with tear gas. Joshua Wong is released after being jailed for 40 hours. -
Tear Gas Continues
The police continue to use tear gas to break up protests. Protests intensify and Chinese state press warns protestors and warns that protests will not change Beijing's stance on political reforms. Protests begin to gain international attention. -
Cy Leung
Cy Leung states he will not give into protestors' demands. Admits the protest could last a long time. More people in Hong Kong begin to help and join protestors and begin to create supply lines to keep protestors nourished. -
National Day
Protests continue to intensify. China issues warning to foreign diplomats not to interfere. Chinese media suggests protests are guided by western imperialists. White House issues a response calling for open elections in Hong Kong. International scrutiny begins to intensify. Thousands gather in solidarity with Hong Kong in cities across the globe and Anonymous joins fight against Hong Kong central government and the HKSAR police. -
Police Misconduct
Police do nothing as women are groped by anti-occupy protestors. Police are both criticized for doing too much against protestors, but not doing enough to protect protestors. -
Cy Leung Cancels meeting
After promising to meet students protest leaders, Cy Leung and other city officials cancel meetings stating that they will not meet with people engaged in illegal activities. -
Art of Social Movement
More and more creative representations of the protests become symbols for the movement. -
Umbrella Man
The figure of a single man with an umbrella in a cloud of tear gas becomes an enduring symbol through the movement. Artistic reproductions of the moment are carried throughout the political unrest. -
Anti-protestors
Anti-occupy protestors begin to invade protests sites. After the failure of talks with the government, protestors began to bring tents and to build barricades around protest sites. Anti-occupy protestors arrive with masks and crowbars and beign to violently remove barricades, tents, and protestors. Anti-occupy protestors prevent media outlets from loading and delivering newspapers. -
Ken Sang
Civic Party Member, Ken Sang, is taken into custody by the police. The next day video emerges of 6 police officers beating him on a side street before he is taken to police headquarters. -
Clash
Police and protestors clash in Mong Kok. Triad members instigate police. It is later believed that Mainland China influences paid the Triads to instigate a clash to clear the protestors. Many believe that the triads were paid by the Hong Kong government to instigate a riot, but to also clear protestors from protest sites. -
Lion Rock
I banner translated as "I want genuine universal sufferage" is hung from Lion Rock. -
Anti-Occupy Protests continue
Anti-Occupy protests continue. Journalists attempt to interview the ant-occupy protestors but are attacked. Several people are arrested and three journalists are hospitalized because of injuries sustained from the anti-occupy protestors. -
Political Posturing
Protestors within the government continue to call for Cy Leung's resignation. He continues to refuse. Chinese media have banned any sites mentioning the umbrella revolution or occupy movements in Mainland China in fear of popular protests emerging in the mainland. Instagram, Reuters, and other media sources are blocked through October. -
Beijing?
Movement Leaders discuss traveling to Beijing to confront the Chinese government directly. -
Arrests continue
Several more protestors are arrested, others go missing while in police custody. -
Clashes continue
Police and protestors clash again after a period of non-violence. -
Protest Leaders Banned from Flying to Beijing
Protestors that planned to fly to Beijing are not allowed to leave HK. -
Legislative Council
An attempt is made to break into the Legislative Council Building. Windows are smashed with bricks. -
British Consulate
Around 100 protestors gather outside the British Consulate to protest the British governments refusal to address the situation and their failure to pressure China to live up to the handover agreement by granting open elections. -
Sites Cleared, Protestors return
Despite protest sites being cleared on the 25th and 26th of November, protestors continue to return each evening. -
Clash again
Clashes with police begin again. Marks the beginning of the end. -
De-escalation
Protest leader voluntarily turn themselves into the police. -
Court Order
The Court orders protestors to clear out. Forced removal will be enacted within days. -
Protest Sites Cleared
7,000 Police officers clear the final protest sites. Mass protest movement is considered over. Protestors are quoted as saying they will begin a "non-cooperation" movement in wake of the mass protests. -
Police brutatlity database
Database is set up to document complaints against the police during the umbrella movement. -
Aftermath: Joshua Wong
Joshua Wong and other activits are released after reporting to the police. -
Return to the Streets
Umbrella movement protestors return to the streets for the first time since protests sites were cleared in December. -
Blueprint rejected
Blueprint for new voting system rejected by 2/3 majority. Inspires hope that China will acknowledge democratic voting system in HK. -
Joshua Wong attacked
Joshua Wong and his girlfriend are attacked while leaving a movie theater in Mong Kok. -
Summer March
Nearly 40,000 people march in support of democracy on the anniversary of the handover. -
Aftermath: Protest Leaders
HKSAR government charges occupy/umbrella movement leaders with public disorder citations. -
Aftermath: Police
Police charged in the beating of Ken Tsang plead not guilty. Officers involved are later found guilty. -
Aftermath: Cy Leung
Occupy activists state that Cy Leung is to blame for the riots in Mong Kok. -
Aftermath: Scholarism
Scholarism activists are aquitted for alleged attack on security officials days before the occupy movement began.
