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Umbrellas in Bloom: Hong Kong's Occupy Movement Uncovered
The Umbrella Movement put Hong Kong on the world map and elevated this docile, money-minded Asian island to a model for pro-democracy campaigns across the globe. Umbrellas in Bloom is the first book available in English to chronicle this history-making event, written by a bestselling author and columnist based on his firsthand experience at the main protest sites.
Jason Y. Ng takes a no-holds-barred, fly-on-the-wall approach to covering politics. His latest offering steps through the 79-day struggle, from the firing of the first shot of tear gas by riot police to the evacuation of the last protester from the downtown encampments. It is all you need to know about the occupy movement: who took part in it, why it happened, how it transpired, and what it did and did not achieve.
Together with HONG KONG State of Mind (2010) and No City for Slow Men (2013), Umbrellas in Bloom forms Ng's "Hong Kong Trilogy" that traces the city's sociopolitical developments since its return to Chinese rule.
Jason Y. Ng takes a no-holds-barred, fly-on-the-wall approach to covering politics. His latest offering steps through the 79-day struggle, from the firing of the first shot of tear gas by riot police to the evacuation of the last protester from the downtown encampments. It is all you need to know about the occupy movement: who took part in it, why it happened, how it transpired, and what it did and did not achieve.
Together with HONG KONG State of Mind (2010) and No City for Slow Men (2013), Umbrellas in Bloom forms Ng's "Hong Kong Trilogy" that traces the city's sociopolitical developments since its return to Chinese rule.
356 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
6 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Jason Y. Ng
15 books49 followersBorn in Hong Kong, Jason Y. Ng is a globe-trotter who spent his entire adult life in Italy, the United States and Canada before returning to his birthplace to rediscover his roots. He is a full-time lawyer, a published author and a freelance writer, contributing regularly to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), TimeOut, EJInsight, and Hong Kong Free Press.
Jason is the bestselling author of "HONG KONG State of Mind" (2010) and "No City for Slow Men" (2013). His latest tome, "Umbrellas in Bloom" (2016), is the first book published in English to chronicle the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong. Together, the three books form his “Hong Kong Trilogy” that tracks the city's post-colonial development. Jason's short stories have appeared in various anthologies. He is a member of the Foreign Correspondents' Club and the Hong Kong Writers' Circle.
Jason has been featured at, among others, the Hong Kong Book Fair, the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, the Beijing Bookworm Literary Festival, the Singapore Writers Festival, and the Cooler Lumpur Literary Festival. He has been profiled in the South China Morning Post, the Apple Daily, City Magazine, TimeOut, Ming Pao Weekly, Hong Kong Free Press, RTHK Radio 3, the Taipei Times, GB Times, the China Daily, and the Volkskrant. He has been interviewed or cited by the Wall Street Journal, BBC News, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg News, the Voice of America, Radio France, Breitbart News, and the Dagens Nyheter. He speaks frequently on television and radio and at universities and cultural events.
Jason is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong, where he teaches international securities law for the Master of Laws (LLM) program. He has given guest lectures and talks at Columbia University, New York University, University of California Los Angeles, the University of Toronto, York University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Hong Kong Baptist University.
Jason is also a social activist. He is an ambassador for Shark Savers and an outspoken advocate for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement and the rights of foreign domestic workers and other minority groups.
In 2011, Jason was bestowed the title "Man of the Year" by Elle Men magazine for his diverse interests and balanced lifestyle. Later that year, he was featured in the SCMP Magazine for his travel exploits. In 2013, Jason was invited to be the keynote speaker at the Harvard Club Book Prize award ceremony.
Jason lives in Hong Kong and can be contacted at info@jasonyng.com. For more, visit www.asiseeithk.com.
Jason is the bestselling author of "HONG KONG State of Mind" (2010) and "No City for Slow Men" (2013). His latest tome, "Umbrellas in Bloom" (2016), is the first book published in English to chronicle the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong. Together, the three books form his “Hong Kong Trilogy” that tracks the city's post-colonial development. Jason's short stories have appeared in various anthologies. He is a member of the Foreign Correspondents' Club and the Hong Kong Writers' Circle.
Jason has been featured at, among others, the Hong Kong Book Fair, the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, the Beijing Bookworm Literary Festival, the Singapore Writers Festival, and the Cooler Lumpur Literary Festival. He has been profiled in the South China Morning Post, the Apple Daily, City Magazine, TimeOut, Ming Pao Weekly, Hong Kong Free Press, RTHK Radio 3, the Taipei Times, GB Times, the China Daily, and the Volkskrant. He has been interviewed or cited by the Wall Street Journal, BBC News, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg News, the Voice of America, Radio France, Breitbart News, and the Dagens Nyheter. He speaks frequently on television and radio and at universities and cultural events.
Jason is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong, where he teaches international securities law for the Master of Laws (LLM) program. He has given guest lectures and talks at Columbia University, New York University, University of California Los Angeles, the University of Toronto, York University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Hong Kong Baptist University.
Jason is also a social activist. He is an ambassador for Shark Savers and an outspoken advocate for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement and the rights of foreign domestic workers and other minority groups.
In 2011, Jason was bestowed the title "Man of the Year" by Elle Men magazine for his diverse interests and balanced lifestyle. Later that year, he was featured in the SCMP Magazine for his travel exploits. In 2013, Jason was invited to be the keynote speaker at the Harvard Club Book Prize award ceremony.
Jason lives in Hong Kong and can be contacted at info@jasonyng.com. For more, visit www.asiseeithk.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 10, 2016
I've lived in Hong Kong for four years and reported on the Umbrella Movement for one of the city's newspapers. But as an English-speaking outsider, I never entirely grasped all of the politics behind the scenes, nor did I fully understand just how UNFAIRLY STACKED Hong Kong's current governmental system is in favor of Beijing. (I mean, the fact that Mainland China doesn't really want Hong Kong to ever achieve its long-awaited "true" democracy is no surprise to anyone, but whooooo boy is the structure of LegCo screwed up.) Jason is the best political junkie I know of in HK to break this stuff down, and his tales of the day-to-day interactions that took place in the makeshift villages that popped up during the Umbrella Movement are gripping slice-of-life tales. Recommended reading for anyone who was present in Hong Kong during this historical time, or for anyone who just wants to understand the mentality of Hongkongers better.
May 30, 2016
Jason Y Ng is the author of HONG KONG State of Mind and No City for Slow Men, and has now rounded out a trilogy with Umbrellas in Bloom: Hong Kong’s Occupy Movement Uncovered (all published by Blacksmith Books).
While his previous books simply described modern Hong Kong social dynamics, the latest is explicitly political and an altogether different style than the others. Now that he has written book-length political commentary, Ng has become a crucial player by being first to record the 2014 “Occupy Central” protest movement in any English-language book. It is certainly a must-read.
Umbrellas in Bloom covers a lot of ground. The complex political system of Hong Kong is detailed in very readable fashion, with all the grievances spelled out. Various charts explain how the economy has left the majority of citizens behind, and why so many were upset enough to camp out in protest for all those months. Most of all, the mainland Chinese government is shown to blame for suppressing universal suffrage for the former colony under the so-called “one country, two systems.” Indeed, observers of Beijing and Asia as a whole would do well to read this book and understand the climate of Beijing in relation to Hong Kong.
The language of the book does reflect a specific point of view; do not mistake it as a scholarly, objective report. Ng delves deeply into his unique experiences and certainly takes sides. It makes for a good read, and it’s refreshing that he does not censor himself and expresses his informed opinion with confidence. Perhaps there is an element of preaching to the choir, even getting repetitive at times—“blue ribbon” supporters probably won’t change their minds after reading—but for international readers seeking to understand the writing style works well.
The book is very personal as well. It begins on September 28th, 2014, the day tear gas was fired into crows as the whole world watched in horror. Then, the tone does jump around as it goes backwards on the history of Hong Kong politics The central villain is Chief Executive C.Y. Leung, known as a corrupt stooge of the mainland Chinese government, although the entirety of the Legco system in Hong Kong is highly unrepresentative. As 2017 approached—the promised time for universal suffrage, the Occupy Central movement grew. There was also the Scholarism student movement, led by famous student Joshua Wong (who wrote the forward book). Then the tale of three villages: the occupied areas of Admiralty, Mongkok, and Causeway Bay. Different ideologies and challenges are showcased, from the police to thugs and internal struggles between different factions and nativists. Some of the most heartwarming sections are about the young people he met, such as Kent and Renee and Hinson, engaging characters all.
In the end, due to a court order of all things, the Admiralty occupation fell. Four days later, on December 15th, the police cleared out the other encampments and the Umbrella Revolution was left to ponder its own legacy. Ng is quite optimistic, surprising considering nothing on paper seemed to get enacted yet, but he does point out that other famous social justiee movements throughout history took decades to achieve their goals. His conclusion is definitely that it was worth a try. “The 11 weeks I spent in Umbrellaville were the happiest in all my years in Hong Kong,” he writes. Perhaps the soul of Hong Kong has been changed in subtle ways that are not clear yet, but in the long run history will prove that things did change…
There is so much to learn from Umbrellas in Bloom. However subjective, it is definitely required reading for expats and Sinologists. Whether you were there or only watched on the news from afar, the fallout is still occurring today and enlightened observers should learn what they can.
Highly recommended for all China watchers.
While his previous books simply described modern Hong Kong social dynamics, the latest is explicitly political and an altogether different style than the others. Now that he has written book-length political commentary, Ng has become a crucial player by being first to record the 2014 “Occupy Central” protest movement in any English-language book. It is certainly a must-read.
Umbrellas in Bloom covers a lot of ground. The complex political system of Hong Kong is detailed in very readable fashion, with all the grievances spelled out. Various charts explain how the economy has left the majority of citizens behind, and why so many were upset enough to camp out in protest for all those months. Most of all, the mainland Chinese government is shown to blame for suppressing universal suffrage for the former colony under the so-called “one country, two systems.” Indeed, observers of Beijing and Asia as a whole would do well to read this book and understand the climate of Beijing in relation to Hong Kong.
The language of the book does reflect a specific point of view; do not mistake it as a scholarly, objective report. Ng delves deeply into his unique experiences and certainly takes sides. It makes for a good read, and it’s refreshing that he does not censor himself and expresses his informed opinion with confidence. Perhaps there is an element of preaching to the choir, even getting repetitive at times—“blue ribbon” supporters probably won’t change their minds after reading—but for international readers seeking to understand the writing style works well.
The book is very personal as well. It begins on September 28th, 2014, the day tear gas was fired into crows as the whole world watched in horror. Then, the tone does jump around as it goes backwards on the history of Hong Kong politics The central villain is Chief Executive C.Y. Leung, known as a corrupt stooge of the mainland Chinese government, although the entirety of the Legco system in Hong Kong is highly unrepresentative. As 2017 approached—the promised time for universal suffrage, the Occupy Central movement grew. There was also the Scholarism student movement, led by famous student Joshua Wong (who wrote the forward book). Then the tale of three villages: the occupied areas of Admiralty, Mongkok, and Causeway Bay. Different ideologies and challenges are showcased, from the police to thugs and internal struggles between different factions and nativists. Some of the most heartwarming sections are about the young people he met, such as Kent and Renee and Hinson, engaging characters all.
In the end, due to a court order of all things, the Admiralty occupation fell. Four days later, on December 15th, the police cleared out the other encampments and the Umbrella Revolution was left to ponder its own legacy. Ng is quite optimistic, surprising considering nothing on paper seemed to get enacted yet, but he does point out that other famous social justiee movements throughout history took decades to achieve their goals. His conclusion is definitely that it was worth a try. “The 11 weeks I spent in Umbrellaville were the happiest in all my years in Hong Kong,” he writes. Perhaps the soul of Hong Kong has been changed in subtle ways that are not clear yet, but in the long run history will prove that things did change…
There is so much to learn from Umbrellas in Bloom. However subjective, it is definitely required reading for expats and Sinologists. Whether you were there or only watched on the news from afar, the fallout is still occurring today and enlightened observers should learn what they can.
Highly recommended for all China watchers.
June 7, 2017
I wish there was a way to make this book a mandatory read for all visa applicants to Hong Kong.
Ng's writing is engaging and interspersed with anecdotes so it never feels too dense, despite
how much politics and history is covered.
I would also recommend it for anyone interested in student/grassroots movements anywhere. While Ng doesn't hide his views, his analysis is fair and thoughtful and some of the lessons learned during the Umbrella Movement are applicable to other protest movements.
Ng's writing is engaging and interspersed with anecdotes so it never feels too dense, despite
how much politics and history is covered.
I would also recommend it for anyone interested in student/grassroots movements anywhere. While Ng doesn't hide his views, his analysis is fair and thoughtful and some of the lessons learned during the Umbrella Movement are applicable to other protest movements.
September 12, 2018
I’m deeply ashamed of my past self as a gong chu and probably a leftard as well. I WISH I WAS THERE, especially when--as if it was destiny--I turned 18 that day. I grew up with the SAR (except for the year I was born), but I was not showered with it by the coming-of-age ritual. Now I understood why D was so troubled by his responsibilities as a writer particularly during the Umbrella Movement because the #unbrellaville is simply the place one had to be. It was a global village! It was a dream come true. (Ironically, it was when the citizen is standing off against communist China that a socialist village was successfully built, something the communist held as their ideal and final goal but was going ever in the opposite direction!) It was the best of Hong Kong! Just look at all the brilliant inventions during the protest... see how villagers adapt to street life so quickly and setting up an organised, peaceful community! That's how creative and quick-minded Hong Kong people are! That's the lion rock can-do spirit!! — “On a personal level, the greatest achievement of the movement was beyond social awakening or keeping Beijing on its toes. The movement has opened my eyes to the untapped goodness in all of us. I have seen fellow citizens in the most hopeless of circumstances. From here on out, if I hear someone accuse Hong Kong people of being materialistic and shallow, or call them selfish or cold, I will say he never spent a day in the village. Like my fellow villagers, I have emerged from there a higher being, if only by an inch or two.” Indeed I have never been there. And the impression I have could be my wishful idealisation of the real situation but I have no reason to doubt the author’s account of truth and I would rather believe that such a dream had indeed came true once!
This will not be the end! And whenever the #unbrellaville is revived, I’d like to be a villager!
Thanks @jasonyng for keeping an extraordinary and truthful record of the movement and retelling in the most heartwarming, lovely and yet objective and analytical way!
#UmbrellasinBloom
This will not be the end! And whenever the #unbrellaville is revived, I’d like to be a villager!
Thanks @jasonyng for keeping an extraordinary and truthful record of the movement and retelling in the most heartwarming, lovely and yet objective and analytical way!
#UmbrellasinBloom
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October 17, 2019If you’d like to get a grasp on the Hong Kong protests – what the protestors want, why protest is the only viable means to effect change, what it’s like for them on the ground, and the many things standing in the way of the democracy they were promised – get this book.
Probably because the author spent much of his life in Canada and the U.S., he seems uniquely able to explain Hong Kong’s Kafkaesque political arrangement to a Western audience in a way that is not only relatable but often downright funny.
Despite having an interest in Hong Kong current events, I still expected it to be difficult to get through the nuts and bolts of an unfamiliar government system. I was so wrong. I couldn’t put this book down. It was also fascinating to get such an intimate view of the protests through Ng’s first-hand account and all of the characters he follows. They each come from different backgrounds but share a common love for their city and a devotion to making it all it can be. With so much conflict happening in the world, I think people of every country will relate to their struggles.
Probably because the author spent much of his life in Canada and the U.S., he seems uniquely able to explain Hong Kong’s Kafkaesque political arrangement to a Western audience in a way that is not only relatable but often downright funny.
Despite having an interest in Hong Kong current events, I still expected it to be difficult to get through the nuts and bolts of an unfamiliar government system. I was so wrong. I couldn’t put this book down. It was also fascinating to get such an intimate view of the protests through Ng’s first-hand account and all of the characters he follows. They each come from different backgrounds but share a common love for their city and a devotion to making it all it can be. With so much conflict happening in the world, I think people of every country will relate to their struggles.
June 29, 2019
As somebody who has had the privilege of travelling to and from Hong Kong throughout his adolescent years, I've witnessed the city change tremendously throughout my short lifetime. Now, as a young adult, it feels completely foreign.
Jason Ng's amazing coverage of the Umbrella Protests tells us about life in the "village", the rise and fall of certain key figures, and the clumsy attempts to stifle the voices of a generation. Unfortunately, as any movement like this, it just seems like time took its toll.
What a book. A clear five from me.
Jason Ng's amazing coverage of the Umbrella Protests tells us about life in the "village", the rise and fall of certain key figures, and the clumsy attempts to stifle the voices of a generation. Unfortunately, as any movement like this, it just seems like time took its toll.
What a book. A clear five from me.
October 17, 2019
A nice overview of the chaotic political situation in Hong Kong back in 2014. The book alternates between personal anecdotes and big-picture explanations. Ng never pretends to be unbiased; it is clear where is sympathies lies. Despite this, his discussion feels fair throughout the book (although I should probably not pretend to be unbiased either).
June 6, 2018
The perfect book to understand the politics happening in Hong Kong in a clear succinct manner
February 7, 2020
I moved to Hong Kong in 2014 just one month before the Umbrella Movement kicked off. Jason Ng's book is engaging, concise, and a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the 2014 protests.
September 16, 2018
2014 was a historical and unforgettable year for all the Hong Kong People and the political event- Umbrella Resolution has changed our home forever. On 28 Sept 2014, Hong Kong police fire on protesters with tear gas, outside the government headquarter due to a series of sit in street protests the government policies. Hong Kong became the headline of the world as the police fired tear gas 87 times and it caused more than 30 people to be injured. The media claimed that this was the first time that Hong Kong police have used tear gas against protesters since 2005 when Korean protesters at the World Trade Organization Conference were also attacked.
When the “tear gas attack” video was spread throughout social media around the world, it inspired tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents to join the protest team in expressing their anger and disagreement on the Hong Kong Government and their decision to use tear gas against peaceful protesters. This incident led to the development of the Umbrella Resolution movement.
The Hong Kong Trilogy includes Umbrellas in Bloom: Hong Kong's Occupy Movement Uncovered together with Hong Kong State of Mind and No City of Slow Man, which were also written by Jason Y Ng. This book is divided into four parts; Germination, Growth, Full Bloom and Wilting.
The beginning of this book started with a simple timeline of descriptions regarding the details of the tear gas attack on 28 Sept 2014. It provided an introduction of Hong Kong political structure and legislative council which linked to an unfair system, the history of “One Country, Two system” and the controversy of the three Chief Executive of Hong Kong since the handover. It also explained about the political, economic and social issues which increased dissatisfaction with the Hong Kong government.
One of my favourite parts of this book was about the interaction between the protesters and volunteers who formed different community groups during the protest period, such as Harcourt Academy, Admiralty Food Bank, Water Blower’s society and The Peak General Hospital. A lot of local students gave up their class to join the sit in protest and volunteered in the site.
A group of handyman volunteers built up a study corner with donated furniture and hung battery operated LED lamps for the students to catch up on their revision. The Author, Jason Ng who has law background has created a sign “Free help with homework English, essay writing, Law” to offer free tutorials to the students during the protest period. Beside the study group, the neighborhood hub-Water Blower’s society was formed, which encouraged the students to speak their mind and share their point of view regarding Hong Kong political and social issues. The group members included Kent, Renee, Hinson, Ken and Yoko who met Jason in the Water Blower’s society. This chapter recorded the students backgrounds, the reason why they joined the protest and how they built up friendships throughout the neighborhood, which I found to be the most toughing story.
The protesters set up booths to distribute food, had been donated by office workers nearby and restaurant owners. The volunteer team also offered homemade soup to support everyone and medical stations were run by GP’s to assist protesters who had medical needs. These actions and thoughtfulness showed what the Hong Kong “Lion Rock Sprit” is all about.
As a Hongkonger who lived overseas during the 79 days protest period, this book provided me with an excellent summary about the occupy movement in a clear writing style with detailed information. It provided tables, graphics, chats, photos and illustrations by his Brother Daniel Ng to deliver the message to the readers in a more understandable way. Also, Jason Ng shared his personal experience with the protestors which made it really interesting to read. It would be better if Jason could capture the main characters who lead in the Umbrella Resolution and the tension and conflict during the darkest time in Hong Kong.
When the “tear gas attack” video was spread throughout social media around the world, it inspired tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents to join the protest team in expressing their anger and disagreement on the Hong Kong Government and their decision to use tear gas against peaceful protesters. This incident led to the development of the Umbrella Resolution movement.
The Hong Kong Trilogy includes Umbrellas in Bloom: Hong Kong's Occupy Movement Uncovered together with Hong Kong State of Mind and No City of Slow Man, which were also written by Jason Y Ng. This book is divided into four parts; Germination, Growth, Full Bloom and Wilting.
The beginning of this book started with a simple timeline of descriptions regarding the details of the tear gas attack on 28 Sept 2014. It provided an introduction of Hong Kong political structure and legislative council which linked to an unfair system, the history of “One Country, Two system” and the controversy of the three Chief Executive of Hong Kong since the handover. It also explained about the political, economic and social issues which increased dissatisfaction with the Hong Kong government.
One of my favourite parts of this book was about the interaction between the protesters and volunteers who formed different community groups during the protest period, such as Harcourt Academy, Admiralty Food Bank, Water Blower’s society and The Peak General Hospital. A lot of local students gave up their class to join the sit in protest and volunteered in the site.
A group of handyman volunteers built up a study corner with donated furniture and hung battery operated LED lamps for the students to catch up on their revision. The Author, Jason Ng who has law background has created a sign “Free help with homework English, essay writing, Law” to offer free tutorials to the students during the protest period. Beside the study group, the neighborhood hub-Water Blower’s society was formed, which encouraged the students to speak their mind and share their point of view regarding Hong Kong political and social issues. The group members included Kent, Renee, Hinson, Ken and Yoko who met Jason in the Water Blower’s society. This chapter recorded the students backgrounds, the reason why they joined the protest and how they built up friendships throughout the neighborhood, which I found to be the most toughing story.
The protesters set up booths to distribute food, had been donated by office workers nearby and restaurant owners. The volunteer team also offered homemade soup to support everyone and medical stations were run by GP’s to assist protesters who had medical needs. These actions and thoughtfulness showed what the Hong Kong “Lion Rock Sprit” is all about.
As a Hongkonger who lived overseas during the 79 days protest period, this book provided me with an excellent summary about the occupy movement in a clear writing style with detailed information. It provided tables, graphics, chats, photos and illustrations by his Brother Daniel Ng to deliver the message to the readers in a more understandable way. Also, Jason Ng shared his personal experience with the protestors which made it really interesting to read. It would be better if Jason could capture the main characters who lead in the Umbrella Resolution and the tension and conflict during the darkest time in Hong Kong.
June 6, 2016
Umbrellas in Bloom makes no pretence at impartiality. The author is very open, not just with his experiences with Hong Kong's occupy movement of 2014, but with his opinions on the movement and much of the related pre- and post-movement events. It's an important document, and well worth a read for anyone interested in this astonishing time in the region.
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August 29, 2016An engaging firsthand account that will ring true to those who experienced the Umbrella Movement, and probably serve as an accessible guide to those who didn't. But it's the reference material - timelines, maps, a who's who and other appendices - that I'm sure will keep me coming back to this for some time.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews