A former US diplomat said China’s latest move to tighten control of Hong Kong would turn the semi-autonomous body’s legislature into something “largely ceremonial”.
“I think what we will see in the coming years is that the legislature … will become a largely ceremonial organization – similar to the Beijing legislature,” said Kurt Tong, a former US consul general and head 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 change the size and composition of the Hong Kong legislature and electoral committee.
In response, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement on Thursday: “This is Beijing’s last step in clearing space for democratic debates in Hong Kong, contrary to promises made by China itself.”
Meanwhile, the US State Department condemned the move and said the changes were “a direct attack on Hong Kong’s autonomy, freedoms and democratic processes”.
Hong Kong Legislative Council or LegCo.
To Siu Wai | Xinhua News Agency Getty Images
Hong Kong is a former British colony that was restored 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 independent legislative and judicial powers.
City leader Carrie Lam said in a statement Thursday that Beijing’s proposed changes are aimed at ensuring that Hong Kong is ruled by “patriots.”
It will “solve the problem of LegCo doing everything political in recent years,” she said, referring to the legislature. It will “effectively deal with the reckless movements or internal ruptures that have torn Hong Kong apart,” she added.
The Hong Kong lawmaker “previously already had a limited ability to actually make laws. Now, I think he will have even less ability to model laws,” said Tong, who is now a partner at consulting firm The Asia Group.
The latest proposed electoral changes come less than a year after China imposed a controversial national security law in Hong Kong – bypassing the city’s legislature. The law followed months of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, which sometimes turned violent.
Tong said Beijing’s goal is “quiet political opposition,” but “not to terribly change the way Hong Kong operates as an economy.”
That means Hong Kong has so far retained features that have made it an international business hub, such as its connection to the rest of the world and a largely independent judiciary, Tong said.
However, the business community is closely following the situation in Hong Kong “with some concern”, even if the companies do not leave the city, he added.
“I think the national security law has been the biggest concern about the judiciary,” Tong said. “There are concerns, but I think people will just have to follow her closely and see what happens.”