China’s top lawmaking body has unveiled plans to ensure only “patriots” can govern Hong Kong as Beijing tightens its grip on the city with electoral changes including a vetting process for all parliamentary candidates.
In an annual “work report” delivered to Beijing’s most important political meeting on Friday, Premier Li Keqiang also swore to “resolutely guard against and deter” interference by external forces, amid growing international alarm at Beijing’s attacks on pro-democracy voices.
Li also pledged to “resolutely deter any separatist activity” in Taiwan, and revealed significant economic and population goals for China’s future, including GDP growth above 6%.
Li delivered his speech to around 3,000 delegates of the National People’s Congress on the first day of its annual week-long meeting, which along with a parallel meeting is known as the “two sessions”. The NPC is China’s rubber-stamping legislative body, and has confirmed plans to make radical changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system, to ensure only “patriots” – Chinese Communist party loyalists – can govern Hong Kong.
A draft decision was submitted to the NPC on Friday morning, standing committee vice-chair, Wang Chen, said.
