Hong Kong: Hong Kong’s political elite will choose a strong committee on Sundays that will choose the next city leader and almost half the legislative under the new “Patriots Only” system applied by Beijing.
The financial hub has never been a democracy – a year source of protest – but small opposition and vocal is tolerated after the 1997 city handover to China authoritarian.
The democracy of large democracy and often violence exploded two years ago and Beijing has responded with new acts and new political systems where only those considered loyal ones were allowed to support the office.
The first polling under the new system, nicknamed “Patriot ruled Hong Kong”, will take place on Sunday because the city ruling class members chose the 1,500 chair election committee.
In December, the committee will appoint 40 of 90 city seats in the legislature – 30 will be selected by a special interest group and only 20 will be selected immediately.
The following year, he will choose Hong Kong leaders who are approved by China.
Beijing confirms a new political system more representative and will ensure “anti-Chinese” elements are not permitted to the office.
The critics said they did not leave room for pro-democracy opposition and change Hong Kong to become a land mirror ruled by the Communist Party authoritarian.
“Hong Kongers was truly interrupted from the election operation,” Nathan Law, a leading democratic leader who fled to England last year, told AFP.
“All election runners will be a doll show under the whole control of Beijing …
without meaningful competition.” Ted Hui, a former member of parliament who moved to Australia, said the Hong Kong political system now “the rubber-stamp game is fully controlled by Beijing.” “This is more than a managed democracy.
This is an autocracy that tries to pretend to be civilized,” Hui told AFP.
Under the new system, all that stands for public offices must be examined for political loyalty and open as a threat of national security.
Back in 2016, around 233,000 Hong Kongers were allowed to choose the election committee.
That number has now been trimmed to around 4,800 – equivalent to 0.6 percent from 7.5 million Hong Kong populations.
The police said 6,000 officers would be deployed to ensure no protest or disturbance.
Most of the seats in Sunday’s election were one horse racing with only 364 contested.
The rest will be installed ex-officio or selected by a special interest group.
As a result, the committee would be stacked more than previously with a reliable pro-Beijing voice, including members of the Loyalist Parliament and members of the National Body and representatives from business, professional and religious groups.
Local media has reported that people associated with a strong city business tycoon will have fewer strength.
China promises Hong Kong will maintain the main freedom and autonomy for 50 years after handover.
But Beijing began tightening his grip in the city after protest 2019.
Chinese leaders were also stung by pro-democracy candidates who won landslides in the same year in the election of the District Council – the only position of public offices in Hong Kong was fully chosen by universal voting rights.
On top of the new political system, China has also implemented a broad national security law that has criminalized many differences of opinion.
Some opposition figures have been imprisoned, dozens of pro-democracy groups, including the most popular newspapers in the city, have been closed and tens of thousands of Hong Kongers have left the city.
The other is disqualified for their political view.