Johnny Patterson

Welcome to authoritarian Hong Kong

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces that elections will be postponed (photo: Getty)

The national security law in Hong Kong has been passed for just over a month, but the scope of Beijing’s plans are now clear. This is a constitutional coup. The safeguards which have historically defended human rights in Hong Kong have been shattered. Rule of law has been replaced with rule by law – and the Communist Party’s word is law.

Thursday 30 July brought home the reality of the new status quo. Hong Kongers woke up to the news that four young people aged between 16 and 21 years old – representing a small group of students who campaigned for Hong Kong independence last year – heard a midnight knock on the door and were arrested. Their crime? Posting on social media, or ‘organising and inciting secession’ in the new dystopian Hong Kong. This carries up to ten years in jail. It’s akin to Boris Johnson choosing to lock up members of the youth branch of the SNP.

Rule of law has been replaced with rule by law – and the Communist Party’s word is law

Later in the day, 12 democratic election candidates were then disqualified from standing. Among them were some of the most moderate names in the pro-democracy camp, including barristers like Dennis Kwok, who represents the Hong Kong legal community. It appears that the entire pro-democracy camp will be disqualified. The majority of people in Hong Kong support democrats. This has consistently been seen at elections – notably at the landslide District Council elections in November. As a result, Hong Kongers are becoming permanently disenfranchised.

The Chinese purge is not limited to politics. Benny Tai, a notable legal academic, has been fired from Hong Kong University for his involvement in protests. Libraries have been screened, and books placed under review.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in