Between 26th September to 15th December 2014, the street of Hong Kong became home to a series of peaceful sit-in protests that became known as the Umbrella Protests, the Umbrella Movement or Occupy Hong Kong. The demonstrations were started peacefully in response to proposed changes to Hong Kongs Electoral system.

Primarily these protests were organised by Students and were pro-democracy as the changes restricted the already minimal voting rights of Hong Kong citizens – the demonstrations were looking for universal suffrage for Hong Kong.

The few days and weeks saw clashes with the protesters and police, particularly on the 1st October Chinese National day when clashes with police resulted in tear gas and pepper spray being used against the protesters. Although from the protester side the demonstration remained mainly peaceful – unlike the protests that started in 2019.

During the protests, while I was not at work, I was out capturing the spirit of the protests with my camera. Submitting them to the now defuncted citizen journalist agency Demotix – ironically shortly afterwards the parent company of Demotix was purchased a Chinese Equity company, and the agency disappeared without a trace overnight. (An example of a published article is found here)

A handful of images were published in International newspapers in there reporting of the protests, which was pleasing at the time; however, the outstanding payment and records were lost when Demotix was shut down. I wasn’t the only photographer in Hong Kong at that time submitting to Demotix.

The protest ran throughout the autumn of 2014 with permanent camps set up in Causeway Bay, Central and Mong Kok – occasionally violence would briefly breakout with agitators usually from mainland China attacking the camps. But in general, the camps had a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. Nevertheless, they eventually closed down by enforced court order in December 2014.