ABSTRACT
Political integration is arguably the most important aspect of the overall inclusion of immigrants as it concerns their share of power and entitlement to resources. Despite the snail's pace of the democratisation process over the last three decades, Hong Kong's vibrant civil society and long tradition of freedom have continued to help maintain ample room for articulation by any group with a different origin or political disposition. There is also a well delineated route to citizenship for Mainland immigrants that is simply based on years of uninterrupted residence. The birthplace argument assumes a gap in political outlook between locals and Mainland immigrants as a result of the different social upbringing of latter before their arrival in Hong Kong. They are seen as more subservient or sympathetic to Mainland authority. In the political spectrum of Hong Kong, Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) are the flagship political groups in pro-Beijing camp.
