The "official" word from the Communist Party in China to Hong Kong.

All I have to say is that the huge crowds (and all of those supporting in other ways) do not seem to align with the Party's view of the situation on the ground in Hong Kong. Nor do the motivations of those protesting align with Beijing's purported reasons for the demonstrations. The calls for true democracy in Hong Kong, as laid out in the hand over agreement and enshrined in the Basic Law of SAR Hong Kong are what this is all about. People, especially the youth of Hong Kong, are willing to put this above mere material gain which, without freedom is less than worthless. The majority of Hong Kong's citizens have seen the fallacy of the economic argument, anyway. Since the Handover the majority of the population has not reaped the huge economic gains of the few. The economic prospects not only for the marginalized, but also the middle-class are grim if things continue on the path they are on in Hong Kong. Having a pro-Beijing government that represents the interests of only the 1% is part of the problem that the Communist Party has created for itself. Unlike China, Hong Kong has had a vibrant middle class for at least 2 generations. The vast majority of the population has not been lifted out of Third World poverty under the oversight of the Party. Instead, the middle class has seen its ability to purchase property, educate the next generation, and retire with dignity erode year by year. The economic argument will not wash with those protesting in Hong Kong. They have heard it all before, and seen that, at least for those who aren't the economic super elite, it is empty words and broken promises. Unless the political system changes, how can the rest begin to be reformed? That, in a nutshell, is why electoral reform has caught fire in Hong Kong.