The Hong Konger protesting folk are slowly realising their place in China...that no matter what they do, Beijing will not do anything. Beijing granted HK autonomous status, and they have it. If they wish to destroy HK in a fit of wanting to be someone else, they can. They can bankrupt their parents, destroy buildings, break the laws, destroy the economy, and nothing will happen...except they will be worse off than they were. They are most upset, not about democracy, but the simple fact that Mainland China is growing exponentially more wealthy than they are.