Beijing planning further crackdown in HK, say sources

HONG KONG • The arrest of more than 50 democrats in Hong Kong last week intensifies a drive by Beijing to stifle any return of a populist challenge to Chinese rule, and more measures are likely, according to two sources with direct knowledge of China's plans.

While stressing that plans have not been finalised, the sources said it was possible that Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) election - already postponed until September because of Covid-19 - could face reforms that one source said were aimed at reducing the influence of democrats.

Both sources, who have extensive high-level experience in Hong Kong affairs and represent Beijing's interests, spoke on condition of anonymity.

Beijing's involvement was "substantial" in driving and coordinating actions with the Hong Kong government, said one of the sources, a senior Chinese official.

He told Reuters that the latest arrests were part of a wave of ongoing actions to silence activists and to "make sure Hong Kong doesn't slide back to what we saw 18 months ago", when massive demonstrations marked the boldest public revolt against China's leaders since the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing in 1989.

China has been "too patient for too long, and needs to sort things out once and for all", he added, saying that more tough moves would be rolled out for "at least a year".

A spokesman for Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the implementation of a national security law last June had restored stability and reduced street violence.

"The legitimate rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong have been upheld and criminals are brought to justice through our independent judiciary," he said, without responding to questions about Beijing's role.

The LegCo election was scheduled for Sept 5 and officials were working to ensure an open, fair and honest poll, he added.

The Chinese government did not respond to requests for comment.

The Chinese official said Beijing remained concerned that the opposition could still muster a majority in the legislature should the polls go ahead, given a lingering groundswell of public support.

Chinese officials are now discussing ways to change the electoral system to address "deficiencies" in the political structure, he said, and elections might be further delayed.

The second pro-Beijing source confirmed that there were advanced talks on structural changes to Hong Kong's political system, including possibly curtailing the influence of democrats on a 1,200-person election committee to select Hong Kong's next leader next year. "It will likely shake up the whole political base," the source said of the reforms.

Mrs Lam's spokesman said the authorities were exploring using electronic polling and setting up polling and counting stations in mainland China to allow registered electors there to vote.

Any changes to electoral laws to isolate the opposition would be procedurally guaranteed with the legislature now controlled by pro-Beijing politicians, following the November mass resignation of democrats from the legislature.

Number of opposition figures in Hong Kong who have been arrested since the new security law was introduced.

Since the new security law was introduced, the authorities have arrested 93 opposition figures under the law, frozen activists' assets, confiscated phones, computers and travel documents, disqualified some lawmakers and targeted media. Hundreds have fled into exile.

Six senior democratic figures interviewed by Reuters voiced fears over what they described as a grim outlook. Among the next steps the authorities could focus on, they said, are disqualifying hundreds of democratic "district councillors" who dominate the grassroots political arena; entrenching loyalty to China within the civil service; squeezing businesses whose bosses explicitly support the democratic cause; and censorship of the Internet and media under national security legislation.

The authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong have repeatedly said the security law will target only a small minority of "troublemakers". Beijing denies curbing rights and freedoms in the city and has opposed criticism of the arrests as "grave interference in China's sovereignty and domestic affairs".

"Hong Kong has entered a harsh winter," said former law professor Benny Tai, who has been a key strategist for the pro-democracy camp, following his arrest. "The wind is blowing fierce and cold."

When the city reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997, China's leaders promised, in a mini-Constitution, to grant the city a high degree of autonomy and wide-ranging freedoms not allowed in mainland China, including free speech, assembly and eventual full democracy.

Mr Yam Kai-bong, a Tai Po district councillor with the localist pro-democracy party Neo Democrats, said the spectre of protracted legal proceedings related to the arrests could scare off or weaken the opposition camp's chances in any upcoming election.

"It's very clear that the authorities, this time, want to cast one net to capture all those who may have been planning to contest the upcoming elections - if they even take place - and to make it very difficult for them to run."

REUTERS