China on Friday promoted Hong Kong’s prime safety official to the area’s No. 2 spot as Beijing seems to the Asian monetary heart’s administration to crack down on free speech and political protests.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam mentioned Security Secretary John Lee will exchange Matthew Cheung as town’s chief secretary, whereas Police Chief Chris Tang will take over Lee’s function. Tang’s deputy Raymond Siu Chak-Yi will take over as the top of the police pressure.
Hong Kong’s authorities has lengthy been praised for its professionalism and effectivity, however its picture has been tarnished lately by protests in opposition to extra democracy and a response to Beijing’s implementation of safety insurance policies. The US and different Western democracies have imposed visa restrictions and different sanctions on Lam, Lee and different members of the administration.
Violent clashes between police and pro-democracy protesters in 2019 prompted the central authorities to take a agency line in opposition to political concessions, a coverage seen by Lam, Lee, Tang and Siu, who made restoring public order their prime precedence. Made.
Lam mentioned of the individuals promoted, “They have made outstanding performances in government over the years and have proven leadership skills.” “I am confident that they are capable of their new positions and will take on the challenges they face in serving the community.”
Former No. 2 Cheung will retire from authorities service.
The change in management comes a yr after Beijing imposed sweeping nationwide safety laws on the previous British colony and a yr after Hong Kong’s final remaining pro-democracy newspaper, the Apple Daily, revealed its remaining version.
Police seized $2.3 million in property of the newspaper, searched its workplace and final week arrested 5 prime editors and officers, accusing them of overseas collusion to hazard nationwide safety. Its founder, Jimmy Lai, is going through prices underneath the National Security Act for overseas collusion and is at present serving a jail sentence for his involvement within the 2019 pro-democracy protest motion.
Beijing promised that Hong Kong may keep its civil liberties for 50 years after the previous British colony was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997, however primarily imposed complete political management and considered what was seen as undue overseas affect on the quasi. The dedication to terminate the one has been deserted. Autonomous metropolis establishments.
China successfully ended multiparty democracy in Hong Kong by enacting nationwide safety laws with out a formal Chinese legislature with out debate or a vote within the metropolis’s Legislative Council. It then went on to pack the Legislative Council with Beijing loyalists, whereas radically lowering the proportion of legislators straight elected by the voters.
In latest months, police have arrested a lot of the metropolis’s pro-democracy activists. Most are nonetheless in police custody, whereas others have sought asylum overseas, underneath threats from Lam’s administration for previous statements and actions seen as a betrayal of China or a violation of Hong Kong legislation.
Despite the intense emphasis on safety, Lam instructed reporters that the chief secretary’s function in overseeing town’s day by day administration, together with coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, had not modified.
Yet she appeared to simply accept Beijing’s ever-increasing function in managing town’s affairs and the central authorities’s demand for full loyalty from Hong Kong officers and members of the Legislative Council.
“Now as chief executive, I am responsible not only to Hong Kong but also to the central government, which carries out national duties, especially protecting national security,” Lam instructed reporters. “So to serve the nation and Hong Kong for people with commitment, integrity, leadership and spirit … we will do our best.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
