Background:
(1) The multiple entry visa policy allows Shenzhen residents to visit Hong Kong multiple times. This encouraged parallel trading as people (mostly Mainlanders) took advantage of the policy to import goods from Hong Kong to the Mainland. Appreciation of the RMB made parallel trading profitable. Goods imported include daily necessities such as infant formulas and luxury goods such as smartphones. Such activities led to serious traffic and environmental issues in the Northern District, as well as inflation and increase in rents due to the huge demand for parallel goods. Residents in the district were discontent about the government’s effort in cracking down the smugglers, as this caused a shortage of daily supplies for the locals. The conflict sparks a resentment of the Mainland culture and lifestyles, causing many to think that Hong Kong’s resources were looted by the Mainlanders. (2) The Education Bureau proposed a new curriculum on moral and national education as a compulsory subject for primary and secondary schools, which became controversial as the content was criticized to be biased towards Communist Chinese ideologies. For example, some of the suggested materials praised the Chinese Communist Party and condemns the Western democratic system.
Details:
(1) Protesters assembled for anti-parallel trading campaign, calling for the termination of the multiple entry visa policy and a crack-down on parallel trading. It subsequently turned into a protest against the mainland. Some protesters called for full autonomy and self-determination. Some displayed theUnion Jack (colonial flag)which led to clashes between the protesters and mainlanders. Injuries were caused. (2) Pressure groups including the Civil Alliance Against the National Education, National Education Parents' Concern Group, and Scholarism organized protests and protested outside the government headquarters, demanding the withdrawal of the curriculum. Three members of Scholarism went on a hunger strike. An estimated 12,000 protesters attended the rally on 7 September.
Consequences:
(1) The Hong Kong Immigration Department launched several operations on illegal employments which involved parallel trading activities and arrested Mainlanders who breached the conditions of stay. The multiple entry visa policy was restricted to one visit per week. The extent of parallel trading decreased but not eliminated. The incident challenged the Chinese identity among some Hong Kong people. (2) On 9 September, the government suspended the plan to introduce the curriculum. Scholarism ended the movement but the issue remains in the scope of political debate in the years to come. The political awareness of young people, especially among the “post-90s”increased.
Anti-parallel trading:
News Report from South China Morning Post, 17 September 2012
News Report from South China Morning Post, 29 August 2013
Anti-national education movement:
News Report from South China Morning Post, 08 September 2012
News Report from South China Morning Post, 09 September 2012
News Report from South China Morning Post, 11 September 2012
News Report from South China Morning Post, 29 August 2013
Anti-parallel trading:
Pro-Beijing commentary, Wen Wei Po, 17 September 2012 (Chinese) (English-translated)
Pro-Democracy commentary, Apple Daily, 27 September 2012 (Chinese) (English-translated)
Anti-national education movement:
Pro-Beijing commentary, Ta Kung Pao, 10 September 2012 (Chinese) (English-translated)
Pro-Democracy commentary, Apple Daily, 08 September 2012 (Chinese) (English-translated)