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Legislative Council of Hong Kong
OpinionComment
Anthony Cheung
Anthony Cheung

Opinion | Hong Kong needs a win in democratic progress, however small

  • Mutual distrust between Beijing and the SAR’s democracy campaigners has made meaningful engagement impossible and blocked progress
  • With Beijing tightening its control and Hong Kong embroiled in the broader US-China stand-off, this stasis is pushing Hong Kong towards a state of despair

Reading Time:4 minutes
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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Anthony Cheung

On reflection, post-1997 Hong Kong charts the history of an uphill battle for democracy. To many, we now seem to be back at square one.

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The Basic Law allows for the transition from a partial democracy to full electoral democracy, subject to constitutional review and consensus. This laid the ground for a continuous tug of war between the pan-democratic camp demanding “double universal suffrage” – for electing both the chief executive and the legislature – and Beijing insisting on gradual change and balanced representation.

Mutual distrust made constructive engagement impossible. Beijing would only allow electing the chief executive by universal suffrage if the nomination of candidates was subject to a high threshold and controlled by a Basic Law-prescribed nominating committee, to ensure that only a person who “loves the country and loves Hong Kong” is elected.
After prolonged political confrontation triggered by last year’s anti-extradition-bill protests, often with violence and anti-China sentiments, the hope for dialogue and reconciliation has all but evaporated. Beijing’s immediate damage control measures are to suppress violence through forceful means and impose a national security law on Hong Kong to redraw the political boundaries.

Central government officials have stepped up their supervision over the city as it became clear the Carrie Lam administration and the pro-establishment camp could not stabilise society. That Beijing has stepped in at the risk of eroding local autonomy and inviting international criticism suggests national leaders have lost their patience. To them, Hong Kong is on the verge of collapse.

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