Hong Kong's Largest Pro-Democracy Party Excluded From District Council Elections Due to Beijing-Backed Nomination Process
Revised electoral system, designed to ensure only "patriots" rule, leaves smaller groups and opposition struggling to secure necessary nominations, with half the hopefuls coming from three major Beijing-loyalist political parties.
- Major Beijing loyalist political parties, including the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), the Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), and the New People’s Party, dominated the nominations for Hong Kong's upcoming district council elections, suggesting a move towards less diversity in city politics.
- The elections will be the first since 1985 without the participation of opposition politicians due to the revised electoral system designed to ensure only 'patriots' rule Hong Kong.
- Smaller parties and opposition struggled to secure necessary nominations for candidacy. For instance, Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party, could not secure enough nominations to participate.
- The revised electoral rules have reduced the number of directly elected seats in 44 geographical constituencies to 88, with an additional 176 seats being decided by members of the government-appointed 'three committees' packed with Beijing loyalists.
- Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee defended the revised rules as ensuring that only 'patriots' would be elected and advised unsuccessful hopefuls to improve so that nominators and voters would find them suitable to serve the community.
- Beijing officials have conveyed their willingness to welcome forces previously hostile to Hong Kong and mainland China to the election process if they demonstrate a change to support the country and Hong Kong, indicating a shift in Beijing's stance towards Hong Kong politics.
South China Morning Post 
Washington Post 
Associated Press 
The Japan Times 
