A billboard for electoral reform erected on the streets of Hong Kong. (March 30, 2021)
The Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) formally approved Tuesday (March 30) amendments to the Hong Kong Basic Law regarding the methods for selecting Hong Kong’s chief executive and the Legislative Council. The purpose of the amendments is to restrict Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp and ensure that the Legislative Council remains in the hands of “patriots.
Observers say this is a major new move since the Chinese Communist Party pushed through the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law to completely block the pro-democracy camp’s access to the decision-making process and deny Hong Kong’s “high degree of autonomy” and “Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong” principles.
More Beijing-controlled legislators, fewer directly elected seats
According to media reports in Hong Kong and on land, the revised electoral system has reduced the number of directly elected representatives and increased the number of legislators approved by Beijing. The number of Election Committee members was expanded from 1,200 to 1,500, and the original four major constituencies were expanded to five major constituencies with 300 members each.
Forty, 30 and 20 MPs were elected by the Election Committee, functional constituency elections and direct district elections, respectively. The number of directly elected seats in the districts is reduced from the previous 35 seats to 20 seats.
The outside world notes that the revised election proposal for Hong Kong has merged some of the sectors, and many seats in sectors that were originally or expected to be controlled by the democratic camp have been reduced or eliminated altogether. For example, the Medical and health Services sectors previously had 60 members in the Election Committee, but after the amendment, they were merged into the Medical and Health Services sector, with only 30 members; the original 60 members of the Social Welfare sector were also reduced to 30 members. The Democratic Party previously held the majority of seats in these sectors.
No lawsuit can be filed after the confirmation of eligibility
At the same Time, important changes have been made to the procedures for nomination, voter eligibility, and election methods for the Legislative Council election.
The amendments concerning the electoral system have strengthened the eligibility of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Legislative Council members and Election Committee members, and no lawsuit may be filed for the confirmation of eligibility decision made by the Qualifications Committee. In addition, the Election Committee no longer includes District Council members, and new patriotic and Hong Kong-loving groups have been added.
In addition, all 117 District Council seats in Hong Kong are abolished to prevent the pro-democracy camp from seizing the dominant position in the Legislative Council through this link. the Hong Kong District Council election held in November 2019 was a landslide victory for the pan-democracy camp with strong public support, to the extreme shock of Zhongnanhai.
The revised electoral system has been in effect since March 31, 2021.
Officials in China and Hong Kong have made no secret that the goal of the amendment is “patriots ruling Hong Kong”
Zhang Yong, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC), said in an interview with official media Xinhua on Tuesday that Hong Kong’s electoral system should ensure that “patriots rule Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday praised the Chinese National People’s Congress for passing the amendment to Hong Kong’s electoral system. She “firmly believes that by improving the electoral system and implementing ‘rule by patriots'”, the excessive politicization of society and the divisions within Hong Kong “can be effectively alleviated”.
Speaking at a press conference later, Mrs Lam said the revised version of the electoral system would be tabled in the Legislative Council in mid-April and is expected to be passed by the end of May. She announced that the Hong Kong Legislative Council election will be held in December. The Chief Executive election will be held in March next year as scheduled.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (center) at a press conference in Hong Kong on the adoption of new rules for Hong Kong elections by the relevant Chinese Communist Party congress. (March 30, 2021)
A spokesman for the Chinese Communist Party’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday that the adoption of the amendments ensures “full and accurate implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy and the principle of ‘patriots ruling Hong Kong’. At the same time, it also “better reflects the broad and balanced political participation of Hong Kong residents”.
Hong Kong’s NPC Standing Committee member Tam Yiu-chung said after the motion was passed, the amendment to the electoral law has a solid public opinion base, will promote the further implementation of the concept of patriots ruling Hong Kong, to prevent “disorderly elements” to use the election, the attempt to enter the Election Committee and the Legislative Council.
Hong Kong Democrats: The new law makes it more difficult for public opinion to enter the decision-making process
However, the chairman of Hong Kong Democratic Party (HKDP), Mr. Law Kin-hei, said the amendment is incomprehensible, and it makes it more difficult for Hong Kong people to enter the parliament. As to whether the Democratic Party will continue to participate in elections in the future, Lo Kin-hei revealed that further discussions with other members of the party are still needed before a decision can be made.
In response to the CPC National People’s Congress’ move to amend the law, the U.S. announced on March 16 that it had imposed financial sanctions on 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials, saying their actions undermined the high degree of autonomy that Hong Kong should have.
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