Hong Kong’s legislature has been stripped of a vocal opposition
Expulsions and resignations have left the body almost entirely toothless
THERE IS “nothing to be ashamed of”, said Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, when asked how she would feel about the territory’s legislature passing controversial bills after being stripped of an opposition by the expulsions and resignations of pro-democracy lawmakers. “We are more excited when bills are passed more efficiently.” Mrs Lam’s remarks on November 11th signalled a dark new phase of China’s campaign to snuff out Hong Kong’s freedoms and usher in rule by rubber stamp as practised on the Chinese mainland.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Leaving in despair”
From the November 14th 2020 edition
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