Fighting Inequality in Hong Kong: Lessons Learned from Occupy Hong Kong

Angie Ng

Abstract


This article provides an analysis of Occupy Hong Kong, the socioeconomic conditions of its emergence, and mainstream media responses to the movement. It gives an overview of the situation of inequality in Hong Kong, from a progressive perspective, using direct ethnographic data supplemented by official numbers, as this situation of inequality is what gave rise to the local manifestation of the Occupy spirit. The article also examines how the local Occupy movement was portrayed by the South China Morning Post, as part of a local press known to minimise inequality as an issue and be an agent of social control. The paper also describes the lessons to be learned from Occupy Hong Kong and its strategy, especially in relation to the press. Before this, the international Occupy movement, Occupy Hong Kong and the local context are briefly discussed.


Keywords


Occupy; Hong Kong; inequality; income disparity; media representation;

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References


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