China Finally Endorses Controversial Hong Kong Electoral Reform | NOW

China finally decided on a radical reform of the electoral system in Hong Kong on Tuesday. The number of parliamentary seats will be reduced from seventy to ninety, while citizens will be allowed to directly elect only twenty parliamentarians. Previously there were 35.

The reforms are seen as a way to further sideline pro-democratic opposition in the city. An electoral college, the electoral commission, will soon decide who will get 40 of the parliamentary seats that will not be distributed in the elections. This college is considered pro-Beijing and also chooses the city’s highest ranking administrator.

The composition of the electoral commission will also be revised. In that electoral college, there are now 117 local Hong Kong politicians, but their seats will expire, according to politician Tam Yiu-chung. These politicians are directly elected and often belong to the opposition camp.

Anyone who wants to participate in the elections must also undergo some sort of inspection. A committee then checks whether the candidates have the right political opinions. Politician Tam says the state security police department is also involved. It will provide information about the candidates.

Most radical electoral reform since 1997

The Standing Committee of the Chinese Parliament unanimously decided to approve the plans. Then there was plenty of applause, politician Tam told the newspaper. Morning Message from South China. President Xi Jinping also approved the reforms, according to state media.

According to the newspaper, this is the most radical and controversial reform of the electoral system in the metropolis since 1997. The United Kingdom ceded Hong Kong to the Communist People’s Republic that year. He promised that the metropolis would receive autonomy status for another half a century.