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To stay in Hong Kong or go? Beijing’s latest ruling reignites the dilemma
- While the city has seen violent protests and the imposition of the national security law in the past year, Beijing’s ruling last week overrode all of Hong Kong’s mechanisms designed to ensure a high degree of autonomy
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Why you can trust SCMP
Too many times of late, I’ve heard Hongkongers pondering the question: should I stay or should I go? For me, it has been a moot point; this city is too newsworthy for a journalist to turn away from.
Besides, I wasn’t entirely sure to what degree freedoms and rights were actually being eroded, as claimed by democracy advocates and foreign governments, whether local officials or Beijing was in charge or unfounded fear was driving emotions.
The decision last week by China’s top legislative body that led to the disqualification of four opposition lawmakers has given clarity, and now that all-important query has returned to haunt me.
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The pan-democrat members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, the city’s top body keeping checks and balances on the government, were just the latest in a string of opposition figures removed or barred from office.
04:08
Hong Kong opposition lawmakers to resign en masse over Legislative Council disqualifications
Hong Kong opposition lawmakers to resign en masse over Legislative Council disqualifications
After months of turmoil that involved protests, violent clashes between demonstrators and police, university campus stand-offs, city paralysis and then, on June 30, the imposition by Beijing of a far-reaching national security law, the decision would hardly seem groundbreaking.
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