Localist Populism and Generational Shift: The Consequences of the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong and Its Implications for Labour Movement

• Labour and working class organisations played a significant role in democratic movement around the world. In 2014, global attention has been paid to the 79 days long occupy movement in Hong Kong which has been called ‘Umbrella Movement’ (UM). More than 200, 000 citizens took to street demanding the universal suffrage in this former British colony and China’s Special Administration Region (SAR). According to surveys, most of the participants came from the lower middle class or lower class/grassroots. However, trade union only played a supportive role in this students and intellectuals-led protest. This paper evaluates the causes and consequences of the UM and its implication for labour movement. The author suggests that the movement has led to the rise of localist populism and generational shift in politics. The consequences have created challenges for democratic labour movement in Hong Kong with a mission to build solidarity with mainland Chinese labour movement and alliance with broader social and democratic movement. The author reflects why the labour movement was marginal in the most significant democratic movement in the history of Hong Kong and how the difficulties can be overcome in the long run.