The Middle Class and Politics in Hong Kong since the Handover

Since the handover, Hong Kong's middle-class has transformed from a self-confident and complacent social group to a group stricken by anxiety and discontent. These changes have brought about middle-class radicalism, "poisoned" Hong Kong's political atmosphere, deepened government-people conflict, and aggravated social and political friction. As the middle class still has vested interests in the existing institutional arrangements, middle-class instability is not likely to result in political turmoil in post-handover Hong Kong.