Overview

• Hong Kong lawmakers passed an amendment to eliminate most directly elected seats on local district councils.
• The changes will reduce the proportion of directly elected seats from 90% to about 20% while the remaining seats will be filled by appointed members and pro-establishment figures.
• The new law undermines democratic challenges in Hong Kong by taking away the last major political representative bodies chosen by the public in the city.
• Critics argue the amendments will marginalize public participation and could further diminish popular support for the government.
• The changes come as Beijing tightens control over Hong Kong following massive pro-democracy protests.