Elections and politics in Hong Kong: megathread

[MaxQue]

I don't see how any poll taken in Hong Kong right now on can be considered accurate.  There are bound to be far too many people afraid to speak their mind if they have an opinion not in accord with the Beijing authorities for it to be accurate. I certainly wouldn't be stupid enough to think my response would remain anonymous if the Beijing authorities wanted to know it. That said, there's little point in voting opposite to Beijing's wishes right now as it won't accomplish anything, so Beijing's sycophants will likely do better than they have in past elections. Unfortunately, those in Hong Kong who are pro-China but anti-CPC have no desirable options right now.

You make a good point.  On the other hand Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute is pretty much as Anti-Establishment as they come.  HK-PORI was very aligned with the Democratic Bloc for years and was used by the  Democratic Bloc to do polling in the 2016 LogCo elections to help them with tactical voting instructions as it became apparent that the Anti-Establishment blocs have over-nominated.  The HK-PORI polls done in close cooperation with the Democratic bloc parties saved them from losing seats to the Establishment bloc through vote splitting. 

How long until Emperor Winnie the Pooh shuts them down?

[MaxQue]

Time to seize all tthe Confucius Institutes under national security laws, then.

[MaxQue]

Hopefully, the West smells the coffee soon and start arresting pro-CCP citizens for treason and their version of "propaganda for a foreign state", especially if they are influent or wealthy. This is only pressure way the West has on China.

[MaxQue]

NYT: How Hong Kong’s Neighborhood Leaders Became Champions of Freedom

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/world/asia/hong-kong-democracy-councilors.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

HONG KONG — Some days, Cathy Yau wanders down dark alleys looking for rats to poison. Other days, she helps food banks deliver meals to older people. Often her phone rings with calls from constituents: neighbors asking about their rights during a police stop-and-frisk, or how to best navigate the city’s welfare bureaucracy.

Such is life for a Hong Kong district councilor.

“I do things that nobody’s directed you to do, but which no one else would do if I didn’t,” she said.

Ms. Yau, a 37-year-old former police officer, is among the hundreds of pro-democracy candidates who were elected to local government offices in Hong Kong in November 2019 on a wave of anti-establishment sentiment that followed months of street protests.

As the political climate in Hong Kong has rapidly changed, the councilors’ advocacy for the Chinese territory’s fragile democratic institutions has made them the latest target of Communist Party officials in Beijing. In recent months, about 50 of the city’s 392 (note: should be 389) opposition councilors have been arrested on charges related to the 2019 protests, campaign finances and violations of a contentious anti-sedition law. (Cont'd)

Carrie Lam?

[MaxQue]

Hong Kong to require district councillors to swear allegiance to gov’t – violators face election ban

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/02/23/breaking-hong-kong-to-require-district-councillors-to-swear-allegiance-to-govt-or-face-election-ban/

Hong Kong will introduce new requirements for district councillors to take an oath swearing to uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the government.

Those who violate their oaths will be barred from election for five years, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang announced on Tuesday. The ban will also apply to legislative councillors who are considered in violation of their loyalty pledges. (Cont'd)

I have to do some  research but as of the 1970s at least 8 USA states require political candidates to swear oaths of loyalty before their names can appear on the ballot.  This seems similar to those laws.  Not to say I am in favor of it.  I think the HK government should do what I suggested: have election winners take an oath of loyalty to PRC before taking office versus making the candidate take such an oath ahead of time just to appear on the ballot.  Obviously if these laws are about people that took part in terrorism and other other felony as part of violent protests I can support laws that prevent such people from running.

How about jailing Carrie Lam and her traitorious collaborators for violating the retrocession terms?
They are the real criminals here.