Hong Kong's New Democracy Laws Explained: Did China Kill Democracy in Hong Kong? - TLDR News

Summary

Tensions between Hong Kong and China have escalated with new election laws introduced by Beijing, significantly curbing the region's democratic process. These changes include expanding the election committee, increasing LegCo seats, and vetting candidates to ensure loyalty to Beijing. The result is that pro-democracy groups face almost certain defeat in upcoming elections. This crackdown on Hong Kong’s electoral system highlights China’s continued efforts to limit autonomy and suppress opposition, drawing international condemnation. The shift marks a critical moment in the region's political future, leaving little room for democratic reforms to flourish.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tensions between Hong Kong and China have been rising, with pro-democracy advocates protesting China’s actions in recent years.
• 😀 Recent changes to Hong Kong's election laws could signal the end of its democracy.
• 😀 The introduction of new election laws by China has made it nearly impossible for pro-democracy groups to win a majority in future elections.
• 😀 Hong Kong’s pro-democracy groups had hoped to win a majority in the Legislative Council (LegCo) elections in 2020, but the electoral setup made it difficult.
• 😀 Hong Kong’s LegCo elections include functional constituencies, which are mostly pro-Beijing, making it harder for pro-democracy parties to win a majority.
• 😀 In July 2020, 12 pro-democracy candidates were disqualified, and the LegCo election was postponed by a year, a move seen as politically motivated.
• 😀 In March 2021, China passed a resolution to change Hong Kong’s electoral system, further ensuring that pro-democracy groups will not have a chance to win.
• 😀 The election committee responsible for selecting Hong Kong’s chief executive will be expanded from 1,200 to 1,500 members, with the majority likely to be pro-Beijing.
• 😀 The number of LegCo seats will increase from 70 to 90, with some of the new seats likely to be appointed by the pro-Beijing election committee.
• 😀 A new vetting system will ensure that only candidates deemed sufficiently patriotic will be eligible to run in LegCo elections, effectively blocking pro-democracy candidates.
• 😀 The changes to the electoral system have sparked outrage from Western countries, with the U.S. and EU condemning them as violations of Hong Kong’s autonomy and democratic processes.

Q & A

What was the main issue with Hong Kong's 2020 Legislative Council (LegCo) elections?

The main issue was that the LegCo elections were heavily skewed in favor of pro-Beijing parties due to the presence of functional constituencies. Even if pro-democracy parties won a majority of the votes, they would struggle to secure a majority of seats in the council, as functional constituencies represented interest groups that leaned pro-Beijing.

What were the significant changes made to Hong Kong's electoral system in 2021?

In 2021, China introduced reforms that expanded the Election Committee from 1,200 to 1,500 members, with more pro-Beijing members. The number of LegCo seats increased from 70 to 90, with new seats likely to be filled by pro-Beijing appointees. Additionally, candidates for LegCo were to be vetted to ensure they were 'patriotic,' potentially disqualifying pro-democracy candidates.

What role does the Election Committee play in Hong Kong's governance?

The Election Committee is responsible for choosing Hong Kong's Chief Executive. It is composed of various sectors, including industry representatives, as well as members from the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which are expected to be pro-Beijing.

How did the pro-democracy groups fare in the 2019 local elections, and what were their hopes for the 2020 LegCo elections?

In the 2019 local elections, pro-democracy groups performed exceptionally well, winning 388 of the 452 available seats. They hoped to replicate this success in the 2020 LegCo elections, aiming for a 35-plus majority, which would have given them greater influence over Hong Kong's policies and made it harder for the Chief Executive to pass pro-Beijing legislation.

What happened to the 2020 LegCo elections in Hong Kong?

The 2020 LegCo elections were postponed by a year under the pretext of the COVID-19 pandemic. This delay was seen as politically convenient by pro-democracy groups, who suspected that China was using the pandemic as an excuse to push through further electoral reforms that would benefit pro-Beijing parties.

Why did the introduction of Hong Kong's new election laws in 2021 cause international outrage?

The new laws caused international outrage because they were seen as a direct attack on Hong Kong's autonomy and democratic processes. The changes made it almost impossible for pro-democracy parties to win elections, which critics argued violated the promises made under the 'one country, two systems' framework and undermined Hong Kong's freedoms.

What was the role of the NPC's two sessions in the decision to change Hong Kong's electoral system?

The NPC's two sessions, which are annual meetings of China's legislature and political consultative body, were where the proposal to overhaul Hong Kong's electoral system was discussed and eventually confirmed in March 2021. The reforms were passed in the NPC with overwhelming support, signaling China's intention to solidify its control over Hong Kong.

What impact do the changes to the Election Committee and LegCo seats have on Hong Kong's future elections?

The changes to the Election Committee and the expansion of LegCo seats increase Beijing's influence over Hong Kong's governance, making it unlikely for pro-democracy groups to secure a majority in future elections. The reforms are seen as a move to eliminate any real opposition and ensure that pro-Beijing candidates dominate Hong Kong's political system.

How did the U.S. and the European Union react to Hong Kong's new electoral reforms?

Both the U.S. and the European Union strongly condemned the reforms. The EU stated that the changes would undermine Hong Kong's previous electoral system and breach international commitments, while U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, warned of potential sanctions and actions against China's violations of Hong Kong's autonomy and human rights.

What does the vetting of candidates for LegCo suggest about China's approach to Hong Kong's democracy?

The vetting of candidates for LegCo, ensuring they are 'sufficiently patriotic,' suggests that China intends to exclude any pro-democracy candidates from running. This process further consolidates Beijing's control over Hong Kong, as it gives the government the power to disqualify any opposition based on subjective political criteria, effectively silencing dissenting voices in the legislature.