Hard line is drawn to weaken opposition

BEIJING — China sent a forceful message Friday advancing top leader Xi Jinping’s sweeping agenda for the country’s economic and political ascent while drawing a hard line against challenges to Communist Party rule.

China’s leaders used the opening of the annual legislative assembly, the National People’s Congress, to unveil proposals that would drastically weaken the pro-democratic opposition in Hong Kong.

The proposed election overhaul would effectively lock the beleaguered democratic camp out of election contests in the city.

A Politburo member who introduced the draft rules said they would help root out people who Beijing deemed not loyal to the country.