5 things you should know about the Umbrella Revolution

It is now the middle of the night in Hong Kong. The protesters are still in the streets of Central, Causeway Bay, Tsim Tsa Tsui and Mongkok. (The streets of Mongkok are always full of people, but even more so tonight.) There have been scuffles with the police, but no more tear gas or pepper spray. Not yet.

Yesterday, Hong Kong's CEO, Leung Chun-ying -- that's him on the poster -- offered the demonstrators a very small olive branch. While saying again that he would never resign, he did say that he would delegate one of his minions, Carrie Lam, to talk with the leaders of the "Umbrella Revolution". After thinking about it overnight [and over noodles? Ed.], the protesters rejected the offer. The standoff continues.

Walt has posted two articles on this extremely important confrontation between the supporters of democracy and the rulers of Communist China. See "Hong Kong's 'Umbrella Revolution' -- paying the price for democracy" and "Why Hong Kong's 'Umbrella Revolution' matters", published here Monday and Thursday.

For those who are in the dark about what's going on and why this is important, Walt recommends "Hong Kong protests: 5 things to know about the 'umbrella revolution'". Aleksandra Sagan, of CBC News, answers these questions:
- Who are the protesters?
- What are their demands?
- What is Beijing's role in Hong Kong's government?
- How has the [Hong Kong] government responded?
- What happens next?

Elsewhere on the Net today, a student leader summed up the whole issue in one pithy statement: "We are afraid that in a few years Hong Kong will become China."

On the other hand, if Beijing can be made to keep its promise of a free, one-person-one-vote election for HKG's next chief executive, that could be the chink in the armour of the Communist regime. Stay tuned.

Note from Ed.: Walt has been waiting since the Umbrella Revolution started to use that "chink in the armour" bit. I couldn't restrain him any longer. Please forgive the pun.