Hong Kong poised to lose last outlet for democracy
Serving as a district councillor in Hong Kong means addressing everyday concerns such as pest control, traffic issues and helping elderly residents pay bills. One of the few perks is having a say in choosing Hong Kong’s leader.
Hong Kong’s government yesterday announced that anyone running for the councils will need to be a ‘‘patriot’’ – meaning they must swear loyalty not to their constituents but to Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party – as China moves to quash the territory’s last avenue of democracy.
The changes, which are expected to be introduced to the legislature – where there is no viable opposition – next month and become law soon afterwards, will trigger the expulsion of several young pro-democracy councillors. Disqualified candidates will be barred from running in any elections for five years.
The district councils have some say in a committee that selects Hong Kong’s chief executive, but they are currently dominated by pro-democracy politicians who won a landslide victory in 2019 elections.
Since pro-democracy protests in 2019, China has weeded out elements that could galvanise resistance to its tightening control over Hong Kong, jailing activists and forcing others into exile, including through a new national security law. Prodemocracy lawmakers have been ousted from the legislature.
Other offences that could force a candidate’s disqualification, according to guidance provided by authorities, include undermining the ‘‘political order’’ led by the chief executive, and ‘‘indiscriminately’’ objecting to government proposals – potentially rendering illegal.
Meanwhile, the number of students dropping out of Hong Kong secondary schools has risen 23 per cent, in a sign that emigration has increased after the imposition of the draconian national security law by Beijing.
Many Western nations, including Britain, have offered Hongkongers good resettlement terms since the new law was introduced in June last year. Beijing has also ordered Hong Kong to change its school curriculum to instil patriotism in students. all opposition politics