Banned candidates. Arrested lawmakers. Cancelled elections. What remains of democracy in Hong Kong?
Across the tropical enclave of Hong Kong, a semblance of peace has descended like a colossal cloud hovering over the surface of the wealthy cosmopolis.
But this is an Orwellian peace, a spectral cloud produced by the 16,000 tear gas grenades that police have fired at pro-democracy protesters over the past year.
With the first wave of arrests for security crimes, «they are trying to create a chilling effect».
Another leader in the Council, journalist turned free-speech champion Claudia Mo, says Hong Kong could be facing a reign of terror: «The arrest of Jimmy Lai and the storming of the Apple Daily headquarters were obviously quite deliberately conducted in the most high profile manner to help make sure the footage would go around the world».
As Beijing began brandishing the hammers and sickles of the new law, Pompeo called for the creation of a «new alliance of democracies» to counter CCP moves to wage a worldwide crackdown.
On its face, the law could theoretically be used to charge any president, premier or legislator – from Washington to London to Berlin – who backs sanctions against Hong Kong’s leaders.
Chris Patten, the scholar-statesman who was the last British governor of Hong Kong, recently echoed Pompeo’s appeal for a globe-spanning coalition of great powers to challenge Chinese moves to crush Hong Kong’s civil liberties.
This article was written by Kevin Holden
To read the full article, please click on the following link: https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/inside-hong-kongs-besieged-legislative-council-democrats-refuse-to-surrender/?ocid=uxbndlbing
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