High Stakes for China in Hong Kong Protests

Repercussions from the free-ish enclave throughout the authoritarian country.

Hu Jia, one of China's best-known democracy activists, said from his house arrest in Beijing: "The outcome of this battle for democracy will also determine ­future battles for democracy for all of China."

China's most famous film director, Zhang Yimou, has said: "Under the big political umbrella, a man is just like a leaf in the ocean, with no control of his destiny …"

In Hong Kong, in contrast, tens of thousands of protesters are each carrying their own umbrellas, symbolising their determination to create their own destinies.