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Hong Kong electoral changes
Hong KongPolitics

Hong Kong’s new election bill slammed by US secretary of state Antony Blinken

  • Antony Blinken says the bill ‘severely constrains people in Hong Kong from meaningfully participating in their own governance’
  • He also called for the dropping of charges ‘against all individuals charged under the National Security Law and other laws merely for standing for election’

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the election reform bill passed by the Legislative Council “severely constrains people in Hong Kong from meaningfully participating in their own governance”. Photo: AFP
Robert Delaney
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned a measure the Hong Kong legislature passed on Thursday meant to align the city’s electoral process with Beijing’s declaration that only “patriots” can hold leadership roles there, changes that prompted America’s top diplomat to announce sanctions in March.
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In the most significant restructuring of political and administrative systems of Hong Kong since its 1997 handover to Chinese sovereignty, the revamped system the Legislative Council (Legco) passed effectively leaves the viability of the city’s opposition candidates up to the decisions of an all-powerful committee dominated by pro-establishment figures.

“The Chinese government continues to undermine the democratic institutions of Hong Kong, denying Hong Kong residents the rights that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) itself has guaranteed,” Blinken said, adding that passage of the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021 “severely constrains people in Hong Kong from meaningfully participating in their own governance”.

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Hong Kong Legco approves Beijing’s political overhaul including ‘patriot’ rule

Hong Kong Legco approves Beijing’s political overhaul including ‘patriot’ rule
“This legislation defies the Basic Law’s clear acknowledgement that the ultimate objective is the election of all members of the Legco by universal suffrage. We once again call on the PRC and the Hong Kong authorities to allow the voices of all Hongkongers to be heard.”

With nearly all opposition lawmakers ousted from their seats or having resigned in protest, their pro-establishment counterparts ensured smooth passage of the bill, with 40 pro-establishment lawmakers voting “yes”; two independent opposition members – Cheng Chung-tai and Dr Pierre Chan – remained against it.

Passage of the electoral reform bill followed Beijing’s imposition of a national security law last June and the mass arrest of Hong Kong opposition activists – moves that prompted Blinken and, before him, then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo to announce sanctions on Hong Kong government officials, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

Blinken sanctioned 24 mainland and Hong Kong officials in March for endorsing the National People’s Congress resolution that led to the legislation.
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