National People’s Congress underway in #Beijing. Because of the #coronavirus we are not inside the Great Hall of the People for the opening session for the second year in a row. #China 
Unlike last year as the #coronavirus took off, the Chinese Government has set an official economic growth target for this year of 6%+ GDP growth. Budget deficit (as a percentage of GDP) is also down on last year, as #China prepares to emerge economically from the #covid emergency
Though people will be looking at renewable energy targets etc, in terms of big news at the rubber stamp session, it'll be remembered for introducing changes to #HongKong's electoral system making an already rigged voting procedure even more impossible for the pro-democracy camp.
Government of #China says the entire #HongKong electoral system to be "rebuilt" with a new "screening process" for all candidates standing in elections. The scale, composition and selection procedure for the committee which currently choses the city's leader also overhauled.
These changes will effectively mean the complete elimination of any opposition in #HongKong's mini parliament. It seems that the stacked "election committee" (previously with 1,200 members) could be the vehicle by which #Beijing screens candidates, supports others etc.
Apart from "screening" candidates, the rigged pro-Beijing election committee will actually nominate all candidates for #HongKong's mini parliament, the Legislative Council. It'll be like having one political party 100% controlling it: not even the pretence of democracy. #China
If it wasn't bad enough that the stacked pro-#Beijing election committee is going to vet all candidates, the committee is also going to be able to directly select its own members of #HongKong's mini-parliament, in fact "a large proportion" of them. #China
Some analysis from me in the piece attached regarding the changes to #HongKong's electoral system. #China bbc.com/news/world-asi…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
