Hong Kong House passes ‘patriots’ law

Hong Kong's opposition-devoid legislature yesterday approved Beijing's radical overhaul of the finance hub's political system which reduces the number of directly elected seats and will freeze out most China critics. 

Beijing ordered sweeping changes to Hong Kong's electoral system back in March, the latest step in an ongoing crackdown on the city's democracy movement after massive and often violent protests.

The changes will ensure a large majority of lawmakers are selected by a reliably pro-Beijing committee and that every candidate must first be vetted by national security officers.

The legislature will be expanded from 70 to 90 seats, but only 20 of them will now be directly elected, down from 35.

Hong Kong has never been a democracy, but a vocal minority opposition was allowed in the city's legislature.

When Hong Kongers can vote they tend to do so overwhelmingly for pro-democracy candidates, something that has rattled authoritarian Beijing.

China's leaders moved to stamp out that opposition and dismantle Hong Kong's limited democratic pillars after massive protests broke out in 2019 followed by pro-democracy candidates taking local district council elections with a landslide.

Their first step was to impose a national security law last year that outlawed much dissent.

Beijing then turned its attention to the city's political system.  Under the new political system it is unlikely many, if any, opposition figures will be allowed to stand.