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Universal suffrage in Hong Kongi

According to a National People's Congress Standing Committee resolution in 2007, Hong Kong's chief executive may be elected by universal suffrage. Pan-democratic lawmakers and pro-democracy activists in the city vehemently opposed an election framework passed by Beijing on August 31, 2014, arguing it failed to reach international standards for a truly democratic and open election.

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People would welcome a fresh start, but we must acknowledge it has not been an easy journey since 1997. The changes of recent years, including the introduction of the national security law and political reform, have created uncertainty about the future.

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To represent the movement that brought thousands to the streets seeking justice as an attempt to wrest power from the authorities is to ignore reality. In the current political climate, poorly defined national security red lines can easily be abused.

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  • Readers discuss the UK’s branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association withdrawing an invite to Hong Kong legislators, and the US extending ‘safe haven’ status to Hongkongers

Analysts say official document and campaign marks part of a strategy to capture what Beijing sees as moral high ground on Hong Kong’s democracy.

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Only non-establishment candidate to win Legco seat in Sunday’s poll among those saying Beijing white paper is positive step towards full democracy.

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Readers discuss the first election post-reform, slam a Shanxi school for focusing on pupil backgrounds, note lessons from warring Scandinavia and Europe for today’s leaders, call for Covid-19 to be made a priority into next year, and suggest a theme song for G20 talks.

Readers discuss the poor choice of candidates in Canadian elections, a proposed law to ban alternative smoking products, the rise in myopia among children amid the pandemic, and television coverage of the Paralympics.

For 23 years since the handover, pan-democrats have freely criticised Beijing. The central government intervened when the opposition crossed a red line, but does not want to destroy Hong Kong.

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Beijing’s electoral reforms take Hong Kong back to the system that worked so well in colonial times, with everyone free to criticise the government but only outstanding individuals allowed to govern

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A sustained belief in democratic and liberal institutions continues to distinguish Hong Kong from the rest of China, regardless of assimilation efforts.

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Chef Sunny Zie recalls the week he spent cooking for more than 1,000 anti-government protesters during the siege of Hong Kong Polytechnic University a year ago this month.

Universal suffrage is not a silver bullet for Hong Kong. In at least two elections, the popularly elected candidate did not go on to become US president. Moreover, swing states have outsize influence, regardless of population or contribution to the economy.

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Singapore was fortunate to have a visionary leader who decolonised the country. Meanwhile, Hongkongers are unable to see that Western countries are trying to use their city to destabilise China.

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