The struggle for democracy in Hong Kong, a sub-national hybrid regime: How it affects the rule of law, strategies for political repression, and democr

Hong Kong has a special standing in China as it enjoys a high degree of autonomy in terms of civil
liberties, independent judiciary and ability to act on the world stage. This is due to the Sino-British Joint
Declaration, a joint document outlining the running of Hong Kong using a One Country Two Systems
model until 2047, and the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution. From the very beginning there have
been concerns over Hong Kong's judicial independence as Beijing both restricts the jurisdiction of local
courts and holds power of final adjudication, and calls for democratic reform embodied in the ongoing
struggle between democratic camps and the government with slow progress, both of which have played
key roles in Hong Kong's development since 1997. Hong Kong has been dubbed a sub-national hybrid
regime, a regime under a larger sovereignty with both democratic and authoritarian elements. Hybrid
regimes experience unique political repressions which Beijing has used in the past, but sub-national
hybrid regimes experience a different, little-explored set of political repression strategies. Hong Kong
provides a unique case through its relationship with China, status as a Special Administrative Region, and
standing on the world stage. This project seeks to investigate how these strategies differ from hybrid
regimes, how these tactics reflect Beijing's tolerance towards democracy within its semi-authoritarian
state, and whether the rule of law has been upheld or undermined through Beijing's final interpretations.