First national security law, then electoral overhaul and now, more rules to keep Hong Kong politicians on a tight leash
- A redrawing of geographical boundaries to further weaken any advantage the opposition could have is on the cards
- Criminalising any advocacy for voters to cast blank ballots will be among the other moves, sources reveal
Hong Kong officials will seek to leave nothing to chance by laying out on Tuesday a “watertight” set of amendments to local laws to implement a Beijing-led overhaul of the city’s electoral system, sources told the Post.
A redrawing of geographical boundaries to further weaken any advantage the opposition could have is on the cards. Among other moves would be to criminalise any advocacy for voters to cast blank ballots, other sources revealed, ahead of the unveiling of at least 20 ordinance and subsidiary legislative amendments running into hundreds of pages of bills.
While the sources were tight-lipped, it would appear the two changes on boundaries and blank votes were among the key moves being debated within the ruling establishment.
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China’s top legislative body passes sweeping Hong Kong electoral reforms
In the last elections, the 35 seats were split into five geographical constituencies but these will now be redrawn into 10 constituencies. Voters in each of these constituencies will elect the top two candidates.