This paper examines the power of the international human rights regime by discussing key international actors' attitudes and policies toward the Hong Kong people's right to internal self-determination, meanwhile analyzing their impact on the construction of the right to election in Hong Kong. The case study of Hong Kong shows that cognition of the legitimacy of the right to self-determination is determined by international human rights norms socialization, experiences with autonomy and the subcultures of the local opposition. This paper argues that the international human rights regime holds only peaceful democratic attitude toward the right to internal self-determination. Thus, its insufficient support for Hong Kong people to claim their right to universal direct election through the referendum, turns Out to allow Hong Kong's unique style of autonomy to persist with characteristics of a ”capitalist proxy democracy.”