英殖時期從未壞到逼使港人爭取民主，戰後高速發展之成果又不是民主所帶來，當時港人普遍對爭取民主得過且過。隨着1997年臨近，英方欲保住港人信心，並留下政治遺產，才推動廣泛民主化。不過民主進程飽受前途問題談判與中英關係所影響，在港人、英國及中國的三方角力下，以殘缺的姿態邁向特區時代。

During the colonial period, Hongkoners had no significant impetus to push for democracy, since the speedy post-war development was not attributed to democratic governance, Britain was also hesitant to push for democracy. As a result, many locals accepted the status quo. As 1997 was approaching, Britain sought to maintain Hongkongers' already fragile confidence, and leave a political legacy by democratisation. However, the process was fraught with challenges related to negotiations between the UK and China. It resulted in a fragmented democracy transitioning beyond 1997.

 

1984 聯合聲明簽署航空郵簡 Aerogramme about the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration

這封私人航空郵簡記載了簽署聯合聲明的時間。佐治奧威爾1949年出版反烏托邦科幻小說《一九八四》，風行全球，《一九八四》亦成為形容官方欺騙、秘密監視、修改歷史的極權主義的代名詞。非常諷刺的是香港在1997年後的命運正是在1984年定下的。

This private aerogramme records the exact time when the Joint Declaration, which determined the future of Hong Kong, was signed. George Orwell's popular dystopian novel "1984," is a synonym for totalitarianism, often with government's deception, secret surveillance, and historical revisionism. It is very ironic that the fate of HK was sealed in 1984.

​

2014 六四晚會蠟燭及場刊 Candles & programme of the “June 4 candlelight vigil at Victoria Park”

中國在1989年6月4日殘暴鎮壓民主運動，令世界譁然。香港人多年來持續在維園燃點燭光悼念死難者。能否自由舉辦六四晚會乃國際社會觀察港人自由的指標，而晚會自2020年後就無法再舉辦了 。

On June 4, 1989, China brutally cracked down on the nationwide pro-democracy movement, causing a global uproar. For many years, Hongkongers have participated in candlelight vigils in Victoria Park to commemorate the event. Whether a free June 4th vigil could be held is an international indicator of the city's freedoms. The authorities in Hong Kong effectively banned it since 2020.

​

2004 基本法 Basic Law

1990年頒佈的基本法確立聯合聲明下香港的高度自治權，以及港人的權利與自由。這份重要憲制文件其實沒有經過香港人公投同意，其解釋權、關於國家安全的條文、普選方案等等皆飽受爭議。

The Basic Law, which was promulgated in 1990, is the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). It contextualises the high degree of autonomy for HKSAR under the Joint Declaration and the rights and freedoms that Hongkongers can exercise. However, Hongkongers didn't get a chance to approve this crucial constitutional document, through a referendum. Various aspects of it, such as the right to interpret it, Article 23 on national security, and the methods for universal suffrage, remain controversial.

​

1995 立法局選舉宣傳便條紙 Legislative Council (Legco) Election Promotional Memo

1995年是香港有史以來民主程度最高的一年，彭定康總督推行政改，除取消立法局委任議席，亦增加了九個功能界別，功能組別的選民資格亦變得非常寬鬆，最終在直選中有超過92萬人投票，創當時紀錄。由於中英兩國政府無法就議員過渡達成共識，中方在1997年以毫無直選成份的臨時立法會取代。

In 1995, HK had the highest level of democracy in its history. Governor Chris Patten initiated political reform, which abolished appointed seats in the Legislative Council and significantly enfranchised many in the city's workforce by creating the nine new functional constituencies. The criteria for functional constituencies, the election set a voter turnout record of 920,000. But the UK and China failed to reach a consensus on the transition of legislators, China replaced the Legco with a “Provisional Legco” that had no direct election component in 1997.

​

1997 區域市政局公共圖書館借書證 Regional Council Public Libraries Borrower’s Card

市政局和1986年成立，主理新界市政事務的區域市政局，有自主財政實權，並經選舉所組成。1999年董建華廢除兩個市政局，被視為民主的大倒退，民主發展因而停滯了十多年。另外因為政府承諾兩局部分權力會撥歸下一級的區議會，但至今仍落空。

The Urban Council and the Regional Council, established in 1986 to manage municipal affairs in the New Territories, held financial autonomy and their members were elected by the public. In 1999, the first Chief Executive of HKSAR, Tung Chee-hwa abolished the two councils, which was seen as a major setback for democracy, and stalled HK's democratisation over a decade. The government also promised to transfer some of the councils' powers to the lower tier of councils (district councils) but this proved to be an empty promise.

 

2000 香港公共圖書館圖書證 Hong Kong Public Libraries Library Card

廢除了兩個市政局後康樂設施改由康樂及文化事務處管理。圖書館在近年於香港國安法的影響下書本審查愈來愈嚴重，尺道甚至比中國大陸還要緊。

After the abolition of the two councils, recreational facilities were managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. However, in recent years, HK public libraries have increasingly censored books under the National Security Law, and the constraints have even been tighter than those in China.