China changes Hong Kong’s election law

KATHMANDU: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 – China has made sweeping changes to its election law to maintain its control over Hong Kong. The new law halves the number of directly elected members of parliament in the Hong Kong Assembly.

In addition, to make lawmakers loyal to Beijing, a test committee must approve them before nominating them. Critics have warned that the new law would end Hong Kong’s independence and eliminate opposition in parliament. But Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam claimed that the committee would not select candidates on the basis of political affiliation but would prevent non-patriots from contesting.

According to Lam, any candidate who is loyal to Hong Kong, abides by the constitution and passes the national security test can be a candidate. Under the new rules, only 20 members of the Hong Kong parliament will now be directly elected. Earlier, the number of such MPs was 35. In addition, the number of members of parliament has been increased from 70 to 90. Hong Kong will hold elections for the first time under this rule in December.

Chinese state media reported that the law was passed unanimously by China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) on Tuesday. At the same time, this provision will now be mentioned in the constitution of Hong Kong. Opposition leaders in Hong Kong have stated they will not run in the by-elections. “This new system is outrageous and oppressive,” said Emily Lowe, a former Democrat. Now, he says, political agitation will break out on the streets of Hong Kong. “Most people are angry from the inside, even if it seems like a normal shock at the moment, it turns into a big uprising,” Emily said.

“It doesn’t make sense to give security personnel the right to decide who will run in a democratically elected system,” said Ja Ian Chong, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore.

Critics say China has adopted a “one-country, two-system” agreement with the UK. The agreement reached during independence from the UK allowed Hong Kong to continue its own legal system and enjoy rights, including freedom of speech and the press.