China continues to increase clampdown on Hong Kong, decades after promising 'freedom'

Suppression of free speech, meddling in elections, jailing pro-democracy leers and passing of controversial National Security Law, is reality of China’s so-called promised "freedom" of Hong Kong. former British colony, Hong Kong agreed to China’s leership under a unique set up of "One Country, Two Systems" on 1 July 1997, and Beijing assured that city would get 50 years to practise capitalism and enjoy several freedoms that are not allowed in mainland. 

However, China’s clampdown on Hong Kong’s freedom became one of major global concerns following pro-democracy protests that started in 2019. Hong Kong protests were kickstarted to oppose Anti-Extrition Law Amendment Bill, but series of demonstrations witnessed police brutality, arrests of participants among or struggles. pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong since 15 March 2019, went on for over a year even amid COVID-19. 

Meanwhile, unphased by citywide movement that developed to become Hong Kong’s fight against Beijing’s interference, China continued its clampdown. Just this month, Hong Kong’s oldest university said that it has removed famous statue - "Pillar of Shame" - marking 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.  statue showed piled-up corpses to mourn ones killed by Chinese authorities in pro-democracy movement of 1989. 

controversial National Security Law

Marking most significant change in former British colony’s freedom since it came under Chinese rule in 1997, China in 2020 introduced controversial national security law on Hong Kong. According to critics of law, Beijing’s vancement in Hong Kong threatens autonomous nature of city. Irrespective of constant backlash and world leers raising concerns over legislation threatening autonomous nature of former British colony, China went ahe with decision.

As expected by critics, national security law has been used by pro-Beijing government of Hong Kong to enhance its clampdown on city. Under law, media reports stated, ministrative bodies in city ranging from finance to immigration will be directly answerable to central government in China. 

Meanwhile, China veiled law as a measure to tackle separatist activity, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with forces of foreign countries. Previously, Beijing has also said that legislation would be a “sword” hanging over hes of those who pose a threat to security of nation. A 23-year-old protester was first person to be charged under security law and could face life in prison.

China allows ‘only patriots’ in HK elections

same body which approved National Security Law, China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) also passed sweeping changes in Hong Kong’s electoral system. China’s national legislature in March 2021 approved a resolution to drastically overpower Hong Kong’s electoral system in a bid to ensure that only “patriots” can rule city. As expected,  China defended its increase of control on Hong Kong’s elections as “totally constitutional, lawful, and justified” and dismissed global backlash against Communist Party for move.

drastic electoral system reform in Hong Kong was expected to benefit pro-establishment camp and furr smor political opposition in city. Even before law was passed, half of seats in legislature were directly elected and remaining half was reserved for representatives of industry groups which according to New York Times, included pro-Beijing candidates. Now, less than a quarter will be directly elected.

Pro-democracy leers are often jailed

It is to note that several pro-democracy activists and politicians have eir fled into exile or are imprisoned. While public protests were once ubiquitous on Hong Kong streets, large-scale demonstrations are now banned in city. NYT stated that ones sentenced when protests were allowed to take place range from some of most veteran pro-democracy leers to people in ir 20s who h been considered next generation of city. Even most prominent figures of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement are now jailed including Jimmy Lai, a media tycoon and pro-democracy vocate who got 14 months in jail for his role in unauthorised assembly.

Clampdown on pop culture in Hong Kong

China’s censorship in Hong Kong does not limit itself to elections, pro-democracy movement or political scene but also massive film industry. Hong Kong, which was once trying to become an arts hub, is now curbed with new rules imposed by China around movie censorship. NYT stated that Beijing has also attempted to get artwork banned from museums. Even though re are still attempts to keep Hong Kong’s cultural zeal alive through independent bookstores, creators don’t want to alienate big Chinese market. Hence, anything critical has no space in Hong Kong.

Free speech in media suppressed

Even if it means digging through laws from Colonial era, pro-China government in Hong Kong has showcased extraordinary measures to increase its clampdown on city’s media. Most recently, Hong Kong Police on Wednesday held six persons, including senior staff of an online pro-democracy media outlet, Stand News allegedly for “conspiracy to publish seditious publications”. According to a Hong Kong Free Press report, more than 200 national security police officers were deployed to raid offices of non-profit online news outlet. Six current and former senior staff members were also arrested on suspicion of “breaching colonial-era Crimes Ordinance by conspiring to publish seditious publications," stated report.

29 December raid on Stand News offices came after Apple Daily, founded in 1995 and now being called "last pro-democracy" paper in Hong Kong, witnessed a major setback on 17 June when more than 500 police officers raided its newsroom and arrested five executives. Apple Daily was one of significant news outlets that emerged as a major pro-democracy paper with rigorously calling out China’s heavy-handed responses and a clampdown on Hong Kong’s autonomy. While paper was published in former British colony for 26 years, its crackdown resulted in arrest of five along with 44 news material hard disks seized.

Image: AP