IN FOCUS
By Avishka Ashok 

Hong Kong Legislative Council election: through a Chinese lens

Xinhua Net
On 22 December, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and the Chief Executive of HKSAR Carrie Lam held a meeting and discussed the current situation of the city and the government’s efforts in normalizing the environment in the city. The meeting was attended by Vice Premier Han Zheng as well. Premier Li appreciated Lam’s efforts in creating a peaceful environment in Hong Kong despite the coronavirus and the civil unrest in the city. He said: “the central government will continue to fully and faithfully implement the policies of "one country, two systems," "the people of Hong Kong administering Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy for the region, improve the system and mechanism of the HKSAR on the implementation of the Constitution and the Basic Law, and give full support to the chief executive in leading the HKSAR government to administer in accordance with the law.”

 On 23 December, Xinhua Net reported that the newly elected lawmakers of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region had a long list of chores to finish after being elected in the Legislative Council. On 20 December, the HKSAR revealed its new list of lawmakers after it conducted the first legislative election under the new electoral system. The new legislative council will consist of 90 lawmakers from diverse fields and backgrounds. The report also mentioned a survey conducted by a Hong Kong-based institute, according to which, over 70 percent of the Hong Kongers supported the elections and believed that the newly elected council would address all the issues of the city. The newly elected members strive to prove a point and promise to bring the city back to its peaceful and economically superior times. 

Global Times
On 20 December, 90 new members of the 7th term Legislative Council of the Kong Kong Special Administrative Zone were elected by the Election Committee constituency, functional constituencies and geographical constituencies. Approximately 1.35 million residents participated in the election on 19 December 2021 which wil come into effect from 12 January 2021. The Hong liaison office of the central government also congratulated the winners of the election and the citizens of the city for successfully holding and participating in the elections.  The Office informed that a total of 153 candidates competed for the 90 seats in the legislative council and that the city successfully upheld the quality for democracy by overcoming the confrontations and rivalry surrounding the electoral procedure.

The Global Times also reported a 60 percent voter turnout in 21 out of the total 28 functional constituencies. The turnout rate was 98.48 percent in the election committee according to the report. The success of the election was widely celebrated as it was the first election that was conducted after the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. The report also denied the claims by western countries regarding the nature of homogeneity of the elections and explained that the candidates represented a wide spectrum of Hong Kong society. 

On 21 December, the Global Times reported that the G7, the EU and the Five Eyes alliance had raised objection with the conclusion of the election in Hong Kong SAR and accused it of being a staged political farce. The US also imposed sanctions on five Chinese officials for degrading the democracy in Hong Kong and condemned the elections for their unfairness. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reacted to the sanctions and called them “Illegal, invalid, ridiculous and disgusting.”

References:
“Newly-elected HKSAR lawmakers set for long to-do list,” Xinhua Net, 23 December 2021.
“Premier Li meets with HKSAR chief executive,” Xinhua Net, 22 December 2021
“Xi meets with HKSAR chief executive,” Xinhua Net, 22 December 2021
“All 90 members of HKSAR's 7th-term LegCo elected, ushering in effective governance with patriots-only principle,” Global Times, 20 December 2021
“New LegCo ends foreign proxies’ erosion of Hong Kong,” Global Times, 20 December 2021
“US sanctions on Chinese officials after HK LegCo election ‘illegal, invalid and ridiculous’: Chinese FM, Global Times, 21 December 2021
“West ‘cries foul’ after losing battle on HK, attempt to incite color revolution fails,” Global Times, 21 December 2021

IN BRIEF
By Dincy Adlakha and Keerthana Nambiar

INTERNAL
China prepares for Spring Festival and Winter Olympics amid rising COVID-19 risks
On 24 December, Xu Hejian, a spokesperson from the Chinese Government said in a daily briefing that China revised its COVID-19 prevention and control measures, especially for Beijing. Seeing the two major upcoming events of Spring festival and Winter Olympics, the government has urged citizens to celebrate them within Beijing. The locally transmitted cases have been on a rise in the capital and hence offices are also urged to disallow flexible hours and avoid allowing employees from leaving and entering Beijing. Residents from other districts are restricted to enter Beijing for non-essential reasons. (“Beijing faces dual COVID-19 risks, tightens prevention measures ahead of Spring Festival and Winter Olympics,” Global Times, 24 December 2021)

China published the draft bill for ensuring gender quality at workplace
On 24 December, the Chinese lawmakers published a draft bill discussing new rules to prevent discrimination and sexual harassment at the workplace. The bill includes banning of employees based on gender and marital status or pregnancy status. Gender-based exclusion has been prevalent as a common practice in China for decades and the revision draft bill strengthens gender equality and points out hidden discrimination. According to the Strait Times, the bill “prohibits ‘vulgar speech’, ‘inappropriate physical behaviour’ or "the display or dissemination of sexual images, information, text, audio or video.” (“China mulls Bill to tackle workplace discrimination against women,” The Strait Times, 25 December 2021) 

Authorities remove two more Tiananmen monuments
On 24 December, Hong Kong universities tore down a few more monuments depicting the protest and massacre of Tiananmen in 1989. The Chinese University of Hong Kong removed a Goddess of Democracy sculpture and the Lingnan University tore down a relief statue. This is an action amidst the crackdown on political dissent that has been imposed on Hong Kong since the National Security Law. (“Hong Kong universities remove more monuments marking Tiananmen,” BBC, 24 December 2021) 

ECONOMY
China’s Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) concluded its 32nd session
On 24 December, the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) concluded its 32nd session. “At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to adopt an anti-organized crime law, a wetlands protection law, a revised Law on Scientific and Technological Progress, and a law on the prevention and control of noise pollution,” reported Xinhua. The meeting largely focused on amending the Seed Law, the Civil Procedure Law, and the Trade Union Law along with strengthening the oversight economic work. (“China's top legislature concludes standing committee session,” Xinhua Net, 25 December 2021)

China lowers tariffs on many imported items
On 24 December, The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced that it has lowered the tariff on many imported items. These new tariffs were adjusted during multiple trade pacts and will come into effect soon. The authorities state that the move is done aiming high-quality products and fasten the opening up process. There are specifications on the tariffs for each product like cancer drugs and each country like Peru and Switzerland. China lowered the tariffs as RCEP is close by and will start from 1 January in the coming year. (“China lowers tariffs to boost high-quality growth, high-level opening-up,” Xinhua Net, 24 December 2021)

REGIONAL
Chinese Foreign Ministry urges Japan to not politicize sports
On 24 December, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made remarks on Japan’s decision of attending the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022. Zhao said, “China welcomes representatives of Japan's Olympic Committee and other organizations as well as Japanese athletes to the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics.” He urged Japan on “not politicizing sports… China has every confidence that working together with all sides under the Olympic motto of 'together', China will deliver a streamlined, safe and splendid Olympic event to the world.” (“ China hopes Japan will not politicize sports: FM spokesperson,” People’s Daily, 25 December 2021)

INTERNATIONAL
German firms face fix amid China-Lithuania tensions
On 25 December, South China Morning Post reported that many German firms will have to shut operations in Lithuania. Many others are facing pressure to boycott Lithuanian-produced parts. A big German industries group has said that this is due to pressure from China on multinational companies. They say that China is willing to decouple itself economically from politically disagreeable partners. However, China has denied that it is targeting multinational companies or discouraging them to engage with Lithuania. (Teddy Ng and Kinling Lo, “China-Lithuania tension: German firms may have to shut factories in Baltic state amid Beijing retaliation,” South China Morning Post, 25 December 2021)

Chinese FM responds to the US bill of Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
On 24 December, Global Times reported on the US bill of Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act into law. “This Act maliciously denigrates the human rights situation in China's Xinjiang in disregard of facts and truth. It seriously violates international law and basic norms governing international relations and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. China deplores and firmly rejects this,” noted Global Times. The report says that the issues in Xinjiang are not human rights issues and it is “preposterous” of the US of making such allegations wherein Washington has “serious problems” of forced labor and human trafficking. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson made a statement: “We admonish the US to correct the mistake immediately, and stop using Xinjiang-related issues to spread lies, interfere in China's internal affairs and contain China's development. China will make the further response in light of the development of the situation,” reported Global Times. (“China firmly opposes US’ so-called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, will make further response: FM,” Global Times, 24 December 2021)