I happened to find a highly readable article "港台激进政治愈演愈烈的五大动因" at http://www.quancha.cn/wen-yang/2014_07_24.  In general, I agree with the arguments that the author attributes the causes why HK and Taiwan being a state of political turmoil to five internal or external factors.  Protests are thus:

1) indulged by the void of authoritative ruling;

2) irritated by the "shdowy politics" from Mainland;

3) nurtured by the "revolutionary tradition" of modern Chinese history;

4) misled by the notion of "democracy is everything";

5) exploited by the influence from West. 

However, the author doesn't give his answers to the questions, maybe you have some of your own if you are also interested in said issue.

P.S. The author humorously comments that under these circumstances the protests in HK and Taiwan have been "不鬧白不鬧".  But I believe not before long they will find it "鬧了也白鬧".