Relations with the US also remain shaky even with the departure of Donald Trump and the election of Joe Biden as the new president. Nearly three million people voted, equivalent to 71 per cent of registered voters, an unprecedented turnout in the electoral history of Hong Kong. China’s annual congress has approved government plans to reduce democratic representation in Hong Kong’s elections, following a wave of pro-democracy activism in the region. … The Chinese parliament has voted for changes to Hong Kong's electoral system including powers to veto candidates, ... China approves plan to veto Hong Kong election candidates ... 11 Mar 2021 … Under the Hong Kong changes, a 1,500-member Election Committee would pick the territory's chief executive and an unspecified "relatively large" number of … A pro-China staff member stands at a stall to support a proposal to draft changes of election rules for Hong Kong on a downtown street in Hong Kong, Friday, March 12, 2021… The 2019 Hong Kong District Council elections were held on 24 November 2019 for all 18 District Councils of Hong Kong. The Chinese Communist Party has blazed the trail for Democrats in passing election reforms for Hong Kong with similar motives as those behind the Democrats’ efforts pass H.R. Europe 20:04, 09-Mar-2021 Hong Kong election changes will ensure stability and prosperity: China's UK embassy. by Candice Chau 15:32, 9 March 2021 Hong Kong’s Lam unable to rule out another election delay, says ‘urgent’ electoral overhaul is an ‘improvement’ Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam is … While a long-term goal of China’s Communist Party, Xi’s “victory” comes with added political weight after China’s difficult year battling COVID-19 and international hostility for its policies towards Hong Kong and Muslim minorities in western China. On Sunday, Hong Kong charged 47 democracy activists with “subversion” for organising and taking part in an unofficial primary to help the pro-democracy camp choose its best candidates for elections to the city’s semi-democratic legislature, which were later delayed. “Only pro-Beijing candidates will be permitted to run for office.”. With Hong Kong’s Legislative Council election now slated for September, after a year delay due to COVID-19, Beijing may be hoping to avoid the embarrassment of the district council elections of November 2019, which were widely seen as a referendum of support for the democracy movement after months of sometimes-violent protest. A n… 1 — providing a mechanism to ensure that only Communist Democrat party members are elected to hold public office. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced Friday that the government will postpone highly anticipated legislative elections by one year, citing a worsening coronavirus outbreak in … Clarisse Yeung, one of 47 pro-democracy advocates charged with “conspiracy to subvert state power,” speaks to the media after being released on bail at a court in Hong Kong, March 5, 2021 … China Grabs Hold of Hong Kong Elections With Patriot-Only Rule Bloomberg News. “In the last year, we have seen Beijing taking advantage in part of the global distraction caused by the pandemic to settle scores on various fronts and try to punish figures who have interfered with their efforts to gradually bring Hong Kong more into line with mainland cities,” said Jeffrey Wasserstrom, a professor in Chinese history at the University of California, Irvine and the author of Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink. The plan is also expected to detail how China plans to hit peak carbon by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, a goal Xi announced last autumn that is intended to transform China’s status as the largest consumer and producer of coal in the world. The committee shall be responsible for reviewing and confirming the qualifications of candidates for the Election Committee members, the Chief Executive, and the LegCo members. All candidates for the post must be approved by Beijing [File: Jayne Russell/AFP]Pro-democracy candidates have long had the odds stacked against them as only a portion of Hong Kong’s legislature is chosen through popular vote. Elections in Hong Kong take place when certain political offices in the government need to be filled. Thu., March 11, 2021 timer 4 min. Media tycoon Jimmy Lai is also in custody awaiting trial on national security charges for alleged “collusion with foreign forces” while in November four pro-democracy legislators were disqualified from office and accused of “endangering national security”. “I believe the Party saw COVID-19 as an opportunity to accelerate this transition. “One reason all this is so chilling is that it suggests that in Beijing’s view now, there is no tolerance for even moderate actions and they want to limit the space even for non-violent expressions of opinion as much as they can,” he said. Ex-Taiwan president says One Country, Two Systems in Hong Kong is ‘history’ amid election overhaul 00:01, 15 March 2021 Macau authorities must … Major changes to Hong Kong’s election laws are expected to be introduced this week as top officials gather in Beijing for the annual meeting of China’s rubber-stamp parliament. In accordance with the decision and the Basic Law's Annex I and Annex II amended by the NPC Standing Committee, the HKSAR shall amend relevant local laws, and organize and regulate election activities accordingly. By James Griffiths, CNN. Hong Kong elections in China’s sights as Parliament meets. The “Two Sessions”, as they are known in Chinese, include the largely ceremonial meeting of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference which convenes on March 4, followed by the more powerful National People’s Congress, which gets under way the following day. Hong Kong: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the mass arrest of people involved in the July 2020 pro-democracy primary elections The authorities in Hong Kong arrested over 50 people on 6 January 2021 on charges pursuant to the National Security Law (NSL). That has led to speculation that the elections will be pushed back yet again. Wed, Mar 10, 2021 LOGIN Subscribe HONG KONG (AP) - China‘s ceremonial legislature this week approved a resolution to alter Hong Kong’s election law that many see as effectively … If China forgoes announcing GDP targets again this year, it will be a signal of the regime’s confidence that its legitimacy no longer relies on hitting astronomical growth targets.”. Members of the LegCo shall include members returned by the Election Committee, those returned by, A candidate qualification review committee of the HKSAR shall be established. Teaching guidelines for children from six years old suggest Beijing wants to remould Hong Kong society. In 2020, the country’s economy expanded just 2.3 percent. Opinion Opinion: China's autocrats end democracy in Hong Kong. A draft of "improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" by the National People's Congress (NPC) was published on 4 March 2021 to rewrite the election rules in Hong Kong to ensure ensure a system of “patriots governing Hong Kong.” By amending the Annex I and Annex II of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, the composition of the Legislative Council (LegCo) and the Election Committee (EC), which is responsible for electing the Chief Executive, would be drastically adjusted. Similarly, the latest wave of arrests has targeted largely people who were involved in a grassroots primary election, which did not vote anybody into office but provided a symbolic venue for people to express their displeasure with the status quo,” he said. What does it mean to be a patriot in modern China? Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks to the press in Hong Kong on March 11, 2021, ... allowing a small and vocal opposition to flourish at certain local elections. HONG KONG - China’s ceremonial legislature this week approved a resolution to alter Hong Kong’s election … We should be diligent in looking for a late-night amendment to H.R. “Facing the inevitability of slower GDP growth, the CCP has been trying to transition away from quantitative measures of performance legitimacy toward qualitative measures – like addressing income inequality and environmental pollution – for quite some time,” Bowie said. The election was widely viewed as a de facto referendum on the ongoing pro-democracy protests. China's legislature has approved a resolution to overhaul Hong Kong's electoral system - its latest move to tighten control over the city. China’s ceremonial parliament this week approved a resolution to alter Hong Kong’s election law that many see as effectively ending the city’s already weakened local democracy. The HKSAR shall improve the system and mechanisms related to qualification review, to ensure that the qualifications of candidates are in conformity with the Basic Law, the, The NPC Standing Committee is authorized to, in accordance with the decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR, amend Annex I: Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and. With China’s success story tied so closely to its astronomical growth in decades past, moving away from official growth targets could be a watershed movement. It’s easy to see how these rather nebulous standards could be used to disqualify anyone deemed hostile to the central government.”. “In terms of elections, it’s important to note that as limited as Hong Kong’s democratic institutions have always been – and they were very weak before the [1997 UK] handover and have never been robust – elections have provided a way for candidates to bring up issues and sometimes for voters to express their displeasure with the authorities and support for movements,” said Wasserstrom. Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, and other officials applaud as President Xi Jinping arrives for the opening session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing. The Chief Executive of the HKSAR shall submit in a timely manner reports to the Central People's Government on relevant important situations including the institutional arrangements for elections of the HKSAR and the organization of the elections. ‘Freedom, justice’: Why Hong Kong people are moving to the UK, ‘No room for debate’: Hong Kong outlines security law for schools, Hong Kong’s prominent democracy activists face agonising choice, Alberta politicians slam ‘vicious’ Netflix cartoon for kids, Disney to reopen California parks a year after COVID closed them, Biden administration faces pressure on immigration amid influx, Syria launches COVID vaccine drive as Israel questions swirl, How Portugal silenced ‘centuries of violence and trauma’, Six Asian women among eight shot dead in US city of Atlanta, US white supremacist propaganda surged in 2020: Report, Tanzania gov’t urged to ‘explain mystery’ of Magufuli’s absence, Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. Updated 02:17, 10-Mar-2021 CGTN Share . “The central argument is that ‘loopholes’ in the election system have allowed people that are not patriots to hold elected positions in Hong Kong, sometimes in collusion with foreign anti-China forces,” Bowie said. China’s security law a key reason that Hong Kong people are leaving the territory to start their lives anew elsewhere. March 11, 2021. inAP News, National. Despite the ructions in Hong Kong, a major focus of the NPC in China itself will be on celebrating the country’s so-called “victory over extreme poverty,” announced by President Xi Jinping last week. The 2020 Hong Kong Legislative Council election was originally scheduled on 6 September 2020 until it was postponed by the government for a whole year to 5 September 2021.On 31 July 2020, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that she was invoking the Emergency Regulations Ordinance to postpone the election under the emergency powers granted to her by it, citing the recent resurgence … Beijing’s rubber-stamp legislature expected to tighten rules on who can run for office in Hong Kong. The decision shall go into effect as of the date of promulgation. Souvenirs on sale ahead of the NPC in Beijing, including a cup featuring a portrait of Xi Jinping who declared ‘victory’ over extreme poverty [Tingshu Wang/Reuters]“Economic performance or the ability to deliver a ‘better tomorrow’ to most Chinese in return for their embrace and support for the Party monopolising power has been in place since after the 1989 Beijing Massacre,” he said, referring to the 1989 crackdown in Tiananmen Square. But more arrests and disqualifications are expected in the fallout from the NPC, which is expected to bring more political change in the former British colony. Experts are also waiting to see whether China will set an official GDP growth target after dropping it last year for the first time ever as it grappled with the economic fallout from COVID-19. read. The two sessions will also adopt China’s 14th Five Year Plan, outlining the country’s economic and social targets until 2025. The … HONG KONG (AP) — China’s ceremonial parliament this week approved a resolution to alter Hong Kong’s election … “Xi set this as a target and so, he must and has ‘achieved’ it, even though the basic concept that poverty, a relative concept, can be eradicated is intellectually groundless,” said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute in London. 1 in the Senate … Updated 4:04 AM ET, Thu March 11, 2021. “If a requirement is introduced that anyone standing for election at any level in Hong Kong must endorse the position that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of the PRC, then CCP control over Hong Kong will tighten further,” said Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Hong Kong court grants bail to three democrats pending subversion trial, two ex-lawmakers remain in custody 19:32, 13 March 2021 Video: Clock ticking on Hong Kong… The chief executive, Hong Kong’s highest leader, is also selected by a committee of just 1,200 people with the choice limited only to those approved by Beijing. Former legislator Ted Hui is the latest to go into exile, as cases mount against those who took part in 2019 protests. Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced the September elections would be postponed a year citing the coronavirus outbreak. Copied. Share on FacebookShare on TwitterEmail. šã€æ’äººå¤§æ”¹è®Šé¦™æ¸¯é¸èˆ‰åˆ¶åº¦æ±ºå®š", "China All but Ends Hong Kong Democracy With 'Patriots Only' Rule", "China passes Hong Kong election law despite US warning", "Hong Kong: China approves 'patriotic' plan to control elections", "UK says Hong Kong electoral changes undermine trust in China", "Foreign Secretary statement on radical changes to Hong Kong's electoral system", "UK says China noncompliant with Hong Kong joint declaration", "G7 expresses 'grave concerns' over electoral changes in Hong Kong", "China NPC: US condemns 'assault on Hong Kong democracy, "US sanctions 24 China and Hong Kong officials ahead of talks", "EU slams proposed Hong Kong electoral reforms", "Hong Kong: G7 expresses 'grave concerns' over electoral changes", "Japan slams Beijing over electoral changes in Hong Kong, terms it 'setback, Green Paper on Constitutional Development, Legislative Council (Amendment) Bill 2012, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2021_Hong_Kong_electoral_reform&oldid=1012642654, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Improving the electoral system of the HKSAR must fully and faithfully implement the policy of ", The Chief Executive shall be elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the, The LegCo of the HKSAR shall be composed of 90 members in each term. The pro-democracy camp in conjunction wi Hong Kong Selections for Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at Happy Valley. China is cracking down hard on the popular democratic movement in the former British colony. 452 seats from all directly elected constituencies, out of the 479 seats in total, were contested. Further signals have come from interviews in state media with major figures who have called for Hong Kong to close electoral “loopholes”, said Julia G Bowie, editor of the Party Watch Initiative at the Washington, DC-based Center for Advanced China Research. Beijing’s rubber-stamp legislature expected to tighten rules on who can run for office in Hong Kong. China's parliament endorses plan to 'improve' Hong Kong elections, further curbing opposition. In recent weeks, the authorities have doubled down on pledges of allegiance to the state and rolled out national security lessons for all schoolchildren, starting at the primary level. The changes to Hong Kong’s election rules were approved on Thursday during the closing session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, left, was chosen by a group of only 1,200 people to be the territory’s leader. March 11, 2021, 2:15 AM EST Updated on March 11, 2021, 9:52 PM EST 5:23. In late January, Hong Kong’s 180,000 civil servants were given one month to sign a pledge of allegiance to Hong Kong, while an upcoming bill before the legislature would bar lawmakers and district councillors from elections for five years if they violate the city’s mini-constitution or fail to properly swear their oath of allegiance. This page was last edited on 17 March 2021, at 14:38. Delayed by COVID-19, last year’s event was held in May and saw the adoption of sweeping national security legislation for Hong Kong that was billed as necessary to “restore stability” following mass protests in 2019 but has led to a swift crackdown on the territory’s pro-democracy movement, including elected politicians, since it was imposed on June 30 last year. Can someone love the country while opposing the ruling Communist Party? ... 3 Mar 2021 … China's National People's Congress has passed new election rules for Hong Kong … “Xia Baolong laid out standards for evaluating who is a patriot, which I expect will form the basis of an evaluation system to disqualify candidates that are deemed unpatriotic. A pro-China staff member stands at a stall to support a proposal to draft changes of election rules for Hong Kong on a downtown street in Hong Kong, Friday, March 12, 2021. It’s unclear if all these steps will happen before Hong Kong’s LegCo elections, scheduled for September 2021. update Article was updated 26 mins ago. “The District Council election in November 2019 was a landslide for pro-democracy candidates, even though Beijing hoped, and its local proxies hoped, that the fact that some protesters had engaged in violent actions would alienate voters from the movement. Hints of what is to come have already appeared in recent weeks from Xia Baolong, Beijing’s top official in Hong Kong and Macau, who has said in recent speeches that only “patriots” should govern the former British colony and then doubled down with a seminar on the topic in Shenzhen, according to Chinese state media.