Hong Kong Chief Government-elect John Lee speaks throughout a press convention on the Central Authorities Advanced in Hong Kong, Might 9.
Photograph:
Anthony Kwan/Getty Photographs
One measure of authoritarian “democracy” is when the winner takes practically all the vote. That’s the story of
John Lee’s
victory this weekend as Hong Kong’s new chief govt.
Mr. Lee “was finally elected with 99 per cent of the votes,” declared China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Workplacein an announcement after the election. “This exhibits utterly that Hong Kong extremely recognises him.”
Self-awareness shouldn’t be a trademark of Chinese language propaganda. Even Russia and Belarus are extra modest about victory margins as they conduct rigged elections.
Hong Kong’s Primary Legislation states that “the final word purpose is the collection of the Chief Government by common suffrage,” however the chief govt has lengthy been chosen by an Election Committee, not by direct election. China’s Communist Get together has disqualified pro-democracy candidates from holding workplace, and Mr. Lee was the only real contender this election.
Beijing’s candidates have lengthy dominated the Election Committee. However till not too long ago the pro-democracy camp may not less than aspire to sufficient seats to function a tie-breaker amongst pro-Beijing candidates and demand concessions or block the worst contenders from changing into chief govt. That modified after 2019, when Hong Kongers voted in a landslide for pro-democracy district councilors.
These district councilors had been supposed to regulate 117 votes on the 1,200-member Election Committee, with different pro-democracy candidates controlling extra. However China responded to Hong Kongers’ vote by altering the scale and make-up of the committee. The brand new guidelines exclude district councilors, create extra pro-Beijing seats, and successfully eradicate any probability that Hong Kongers can have a say in who governs them.
Mr. Lee auditioned for Chinese language President
Xi Jinping’s
blessing as Hong Kong’s prime safety chief below former chief govt
Carrie Lam.
He oversaw the arrest of dozens of opposition leaders and the dismantling of Hong Kong’s free press. He preened for Beijing’s approval by denouncing these columns in December after we criticized the crackdown.
In a letter he launched publicly, he claimed our protection was “a grossly biased misrepresentation of info which significantly misleads readers in regards to the state of affairs in Hong Kong.” The info are correct and clear sufficient to these he has imprisoned, so he can take pleasure in life as Beijing’s factotum within the as soon as free territory.
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