HONG KONG – China’s plan to reform Hong Kong’s electoral system, expected to be introduced in a parliamentary session in Beijing starting this week, will lead to an overhaul of the territory’s political scene, as per more than a dozen politicians from various places.
The proposed reform will impose more pressure on pro-democracy activists, who are already victimised as part of a crackdown on dissent.
“It will be an earthquake shaking up local political interests,” uttered a person, who was against the reforms.
The measures will be unveiled at the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress, China’s rubber-stamp parliament, which begins on Friday, as per media reports.
The plan was signalled last week by senior Chinese official Xia Baolong, who said Beijing would bring in systemic changes that paved way to only what he called “patriots” to hold public office in Hong Kong.
Xia said Hong Kong’s electoral system had to be “designed” to suit the city’s situation and shunned people, according to him, were non-patriots, some of whom he described as “anti-China agitators” , would bring destruction and terror to the city. He was seen referring to pro-democracy campaigners who had rallied in sometimes violent demonstrations in 2019.
Xia said the plan will likely include changes that would detail how the 70-seat Hong Kong legislature is elected. It would also throw light on a composition of a committee that will choose Hong Kong’s next leader, as per the person briefed on the plan and local media reports.
Veteran democrats, however, condemned the plan.
“It totally destroys any hope for democracy in the future,” said Lee Cheuk-yan, a pro-democracy former member of Hong Kong’s legislature. “The whole concept of Xia Baolong is that the Communist Party rules Hong Kong and only those that support the party can have any role.”
Lee was informed of the impending reform last week, in the middle of his trial, along with a group of eight other pro-democracy activists, over unlawful assembly charges in connection to a protest in August 2019.
“It’s no longer for people to decide,” Lee told last week. “It’s one party rule, completely.”
Shiu Sin-por, a pro-Beijing politician and former head of Hong Kong’s Central Policy Unit, told reporters after a briefing session with Xia on the matter “Don’t go too far and kill the patient.” The opposition camp has already been neutralised by last year’s national security law, Shiu said, allowing the government to “push forward policies smoothly.”
The Hong Kong government said in a statement that it was prioritising the implementation of the principle of “patriots ruling Hong Kong” and enriching the electoral system, and that it will continue to accept views on the matter.
Two senior pro-Beijing politicians told the electoral reform plan, coming in the backdrop of the intense crackdown that has already invited international criticism, would ultimately work towards bringing the worse for Hong Kong, vandalising its unique character, pluralism and attractiveness for investors.
“It’s really sad that Hong Kong has degenerated to this stage,” said one of the politicians, on the electoral reform. “We’re handing Hong Kong over to the next generation in a worse state than we inherited it.”
The two pro-Beijing politicians spoke on condition of anonymity, due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“Nothing is normal anymore,” said the second pro-Beijing politician. “It’s a new abnormal.”
A group that appears ready to get benefitted from electoral reforms is the new Bauhinia Party, formed in May by Charles Wong and two other mainland-born, pro-Beijing businessmen, affirming policies that Wong says will help instill a revival of Hong Kong and its leadership.
“They (Beijing) never really have any opposition to what we do,” Wong told.
Wong, 56, was born in mainland China but came to Hong Kong as a youth. He speaks fluent Cantonese, the local dialect. Calling himself a “patriot,” Wong stands for China’s declared wish to have Hong Kong governed at all levels by people, who have closer ties and are sympathisers of the mainland.
“We are Hong Kong people,” he told. “We love Hong Kong.”