It all began back in August last year when the standing committee of National People’s Congress published its guidelines for electoral reform. Opposition to the restrictions imposed by the framework was greater and lasted longer than anyone expected. The occupation by demonstrators achieved international media coverage but ended peacefully before Christmas. After that the government began its second round of consultation, on among other things the composition of the 1,200 member nomination committee, mostly composed of representatives of various sectors – business, finance, unions, agriculture etc. This second phase ended yesterday in what appeared to be a stalemate. The Hong Kong and central government declared that the standing committee’s framework for the 2017 Chief Executive Election was definitive and unalterable. They also claimed that this was an unrepeatable chance for the people of Hong Kong to gain universal suffrage. Well, it would mean the people got to vote, whereas before the nomination committee decided, but only for one of two or three officially approved candidates. The opposition was equally adamant, declaring in turn that the framework was unacceptable as it did not offer the electorate a real choice. For the government proposal to be voted through in the Legislature, four of the opposition Pan-Democrats must change sides, an unlikely event.
Signals from Mainland are mixed: on the one hand, President Xi’s speech to the Communist Party of China Central Committee reaffirmed loyalty to the Basic Law and the principle of Two Countries, One System; on the other, there was talk of the unpopular Hong Kong Chief Executive being re-elected and him introducing Chinese security law in the Special Administrative region.
Signals from Mainland are mixed: on the one hand, President Xi’s speech to the Communist Party of China Central Committee reaffirmed loyalty to the Basic Law and the principle of Two Countries, One System; on the other, there was talk of the unpopular Hong Kong Chief Executive being re-elected and him introducing Chinese security law in the Special Administrative region.