Hong Kong opposition parties warn they could end up not running in elections if races ‘manipulated’ by Beijing under impending electoral reforms
- They also express worry about precedent being set with Beijing emphasising it will take leadership role in reforms to electoral system
- New standards on ‘patriots ruling Hong Kong’, set out by director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, throw new challenges to opposition camp
Hong Kong’s opposition parties have warned they could end up not running in elections if races are “manipulated” by Beijing under the impending electoral reforms led by the central government with the aim of blocking “non-patriots” from the city’s organs of political power.
They also expressed worry about the precedent being set with Beijing emphasising that it would take the leadership role in the reforms to the city’s electoral system, as announced by Xia Baolong, a top Chinese official overseeing Hong Kong’s affairs.
Such direct intervention could mean future constitutional changes on elections might not then require the current two-thirds majority in the Legislative Council to approve them, they warned.
Pro-establishment heavyweights acknowledged that the changes could pave the way for such an outcome, adding this was essential as it was unlikely the city could reach a consensus on the electoral reforms.
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Electoral system needs to change so patriots rule Hong Kong, Carrie Lam says
The new standards on “patriots ruling Hong Kong”, set out by the State Council’s director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in a Beijing forum on Monday, threw new challenges to the city’s opposition camp, already reeling from mass arrests and possible convictions.
Xia warned that effective measures must be put in place to prevent those who “oppose China and undermine the stability of Hong Kong, as well as “agents of anti-China forces” in overseas countries, from taking up positions of political power.