Chinese leaders plan to curb the influence of Hong Kong opposition groups in a body that selects the city’s top official, taking seats from pro-democracy politicians and handing them over to pro-Beijing loyalists, according to people they know. the proposal.
At an annual legislative session in March, Chinese lawmakers are expected to vote on the proposed changes to the composition of a 1,200-member committee that elects Hong Kong’s chief executive, the people said.
The revisions would drastically reduce or potentially eliminate the 117 seats allocated to Hong Kong district councilors, a bloc now dominated by opposition groups, they said. These seats will be awarded to some of the more than 200 Hong Kong-resident members of China’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the people said.
The plan is part of the big changes foretold by the head of the Beijing office on Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong, in a speech on Monday in which he said the Hong Kong executive, legislature and judiciary must understand “true patriots.” In his first public speech after taking office in early 2020, Mr. Xia called “destroyers” anyone who opposes the governments of China or Hong Kong who should not be able to exert influence in the future.
Xia did not specify any proposed electoral change, but people familiar with the plans said details of the legislation are being completed before the March 5 opening of the People’s National Congress, China’s legislature. Chief executive Carrie Lam, who has a low public approval rating, has not said whether she intends to run for a second five-year term next year.