30 Mar 21
Goodnight, democracy:
China has passed sweeping changes to Hong Kong's electoral rules which will tighten its control over the city.
The number of directly elected seats in parliament has been cut almost by half, and prospective MPs will first be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee to ensure their loyalty to the mainland.
The aim is to ensure only "patriotic" figures can run for positions of power.
Critics warn it will mean the end of democracy, as it removes all opposition from the city parliament.
Beijing's rubber-stamp parliament first approved the plan during the National People's Congress (NPC) meetings earlier in March.
On Tuesday, Chinese state media reported that the country's top decision-making body, the NPC Standing Committee, voted unanimously to pass it. This amends the annexes of Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-56560829
The post that was quoted here has been removedThat was obviously just a bad choice of words. I meant I was surprised it was able to keep it's own (limited) governance this long after British rule.
I'm sure everyone else knows what I was trying to say, and that no one else thinks I meant to imply Hong is internationally recognized independent state.
Honestly, you need a boyfriend.
