Posted on 03/12/2021 6:13:51 AM PST by SJackson
A former U.S. diplomat said China’s latest move to tighten its control over Hong Kong will turn the semi-autonomous region’s legislative body into something that’s “largely ceremonial.”
“I think what we’ll see in the years ahead is that the legislative council ... will become a largely ceremonial organization — similar to the legislative apparatus in Beijing,” Kurt Tong, former U.S. consul general and chief of mission in Hong Kong and Macau, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Friday.
Beijing on Thursday approved a draft decision to change Hong Kong’s electoral system. The proposed measures will alter the size and composition of Hong Kong’s legislature and election committee.
In response, the U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a Thursday statement: “This is the latest step by Beijing to hollow out the space for democratic debate in Hong Kong, contrary to the promises made by China itself.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department condemned the move and said the changes were “a direct attack on Hong Kong’s autonomy, its freedoms and democratic processes.”
Hong Kong is a former British colony that was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. It is governed under a “one country, two systems” framework that promises the city greater autonomy than other mainland Chinese cities, including legislative and independent judicial power.
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Its amazing (and shocking) how quickly and effectively China clamped-down on Hong Kong once they decided to act.
> I think what we’ll see in the years ahead is that the legislative council ... will become a largely ceremonial organization <
Kinda like the way our one-party Congress is headed. But no worries. Executive orders will take up the slack.
Largely ceremonial, like state elections here.
Color me a color revolution shocked.
Biden will completely ignore this because he’s busy looking for a big red bow to slap on Taiwan to present to Xi as a gift.
Its amazing (and shocking) how quickly and effectively China clamped-down on Hong Kong once they decided to act.
Just like the US ?
Exactly, as if we have any room to talk.
“Its amazing (and shocking) how quickly and effectively China clamped-down on Hong Kong once they decided to act.”
Yes.
This is why the second amendment is so important.
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