Earlier this year, authorities in Hong Kong passed sweeping reforms in its electoral system that would correct "loopholes and deficiencies" in Hong Kong's electoral system and ensure that "patriots [are] administering Hong Kong."
These reforms have been decried by the West and other critiques as further erosion of Hong Kong's democratic system. For the IAA, we'll primarily be discussing some of the legal text of these changes (linked here) but if you would like to also review Chinese officials' explanation for these changes, the full text of that speech is linked in the quote above.
"The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) shall be composed of 90 members for each term. The composition of the Legislative Council shall be as follows: Members returned by the Election Committee 40
Members returned by functional constituencies 30
Members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections 20
...
The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee of the HKSAR shall be responsible for reviewing and confirming the eligibility of candidates for members of the Legislative Council. The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR shall, on the basis of the review by the department for safeguarding national security of the Police Force of the HKSAR, make findings as to whether a candidate for member of the Legislative Council meets the legal requirements and conditions of upholding the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and swearing allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, and issue an opinion to the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee of the HKSAR in respect of a candidate who fails to meet such legal requirements and conditions.
No legal proceedings may be instituted in respect of a decision made by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee of the HKSAR on the eligibility of a candidate for member of the Legislative Council pursuant to the opinion of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR.
The HKSAR shall, in accordance with the law, take measures against acts of manipulating or undermining election."
Offer your commentary on these new laws and their implications here: https://www.biedsociety.com/forum/indo-pacific-and-east-asia/asia-pacific-affairs
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