Members of the overwhelmingly pro-Beijing Hong Kong Legislative Council on Thursday approved sweeping electoral measures giving the city's security department new powers to vet candidates for public office and established a new panel to ensure that those who run are sufficiently "patriotic."
Reuters
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with reporters during a media availability in Amman, Jordan May 26, 2021. Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said the Chinese government is continuing to undermine democratic institutions in Hong Kong and called on People s Republic of China and Hong Kong authorities to release and drop charges against all people charged under the national security law.
Blinken in a statement said that measures passed by the Hong Kong Legislative Council on Thursday severely constrains people in Hong Kong from meaningfully participating in their own governance and having their voices heard.
Follow RT on Hong Kong’s legislative body has overwhelmingly backed the ‘patriots rule’ electoral reform system that restricts political positions in the autonomous region to people who support a united China.
The new electoral system was supported by an overwhelming majority of Hong Kong’s political body, with 40 votes in favor and only two dissenters, ensuring it passed into law and will be adopted by the city.
The electoral reforms will introduce a ‘patriots rule’ requirement, restricting political office to individuals who show allegiance to Hong Kong and China, uphold the region’s Basic Law and pass national security checks. It will also reduce the number of elected seats in the chamber from half to less than a quarter.
香港立法會三讀通過修改選舉制度 民主黨批倒退未決定參選否 voacantonese.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from voacantonese.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.