China is expected to launch new political controls over Hong Kong in a parliamentary session this week, which will also likely see the consolidation of President Xi Jinping's power.
Beijing plans to ensure that only loyal supporters of the Communist party (patriot) can govern Hong Kong, according to a statement by a high-ranking Chinese official ahead of the annual meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC).
China has previously sparked worldwide controversy over introducing national security laws on NPCs last year, which were used to curb Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
This has resulted in various diplomatic and trade sanctions being imposed on Beijing, as well as other issues such as human rights violations in Xinjiang, the South China Sea dispute and the origins of the coronavirus.
According to sources from the government, it is possible that the change will shake the second process of the Legislative Council election, and the formation of a committee to elect a leader known as the chief executive.
Currently, the committee consists of members of the district council, the majority of whom are from the pro-democracy party that won big in the November 2019 elections.
