Hong Kong Chief Executive is backing down on the controversial anti-subversion laws that are about to be voted into law this week. This is important news and it appears that those who have unparalleled influence on Hong Kong’s government, no not Beijing, not Tung’s cabinet, but the Hong Kong business elite (who to date have been pro-Beijing for obvious reasons) have pushed for some sort of a compromise. We will have to see what it looks like but this is a major development and evidence that not everything is dictated top-down from Beijing. This is the ultimate test for Tung. As I mentioned earlier the Hong Kong government is completely out of touch with its citizens to the extent that:

Even if his concessions defuse tensions, and the law passes, Tung still faces a severe crisis of confidence. One critic said the political atmosphere was so poisoned that the government would have trouble passing a bill giving away free lunches.

The next big protest is scheduled for Wednesday July 9, the day Hong Kong’s legislative council will vote on the controversial laws. I penciled this day in my diary as “Iran Day” following Sullivan’s call to make it "Democracy in Iran Week". It may turn out to be Hong Kong’s week.