ABSTRACT
Since the 1995 elections there has been a gradual enroachment of illiberal ideologies into the Hong Kong 'way of life'. This chapter examines the period from September 1995 to September 1998. It analyses the illiberal challenges to the Hong Kong identity, civil society and political system. If the 1995 elections were able to be conceived as the peak of Hong Kong's liberalisation, then the post-election period could be regarded as the downward slope. The chapter also examines the final 19 months of British rule which was marked by the growing intervention of Chinese policies. It also analyses challenges faced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) in its first twelve months. The chapter provides an detailed analysis of the 1998 Legislative Council elections and their potential to create an illiberal democratic regime under the SAR administration. It looks at further political reforms in the territory and what impact they are likely to have on the political system.
