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I didn't think Hong Kong was particularly democratic. Free market but doesn't it have system where the electorate votes for some seats and business interests vo

I didn't think Hong Kong was particularly democratic. Free market but doesn't it have system where the electorate votes for some seats and business interests vote for others?

hadrien01 7y ago
The city of London has the same voting system (sort of)
- jackvalentine 7y ago
  Same with the City of Melbourne - I worked for a small company there and got to cast our two votes in the council elections.
bobthepanda 7y ago
The fact that there‘s any independent political parties responding to citizen concerns is the destabilizing factor.
FabHK 7y ago
Yes, basically (35 seats for "geographical constituencies", ie districts, and 35 seats for "functional constituencies", ie industries and the like). The opposition used to get enough seats to hold the pro-Beijing camp in check somewhat (with veto power on constitutional reforms), but after the (entertaining, but ex post unfortunate) oath-taking controversy [1] in 2016, six members-elect were disqualified, after Beijing "interpreted" the Basic Law of Hong Kong to "clarify" it (as it is entitled to do under the Basic Law). Now the one-thirds minority to block constitutional changes is gone. EDIT to add: Still, it's much too democratic for China! [1] Among the antics: legislators held a "Hong Kong is not China" banner, mispronounced "People's Republic of China" as "people's re-fucking of Chee-na" (the latter a derogatory term), and spent about ten minutes reading the 80-word oath in extreme slow motion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Legislative_Council_oath-taking_controversy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Legislative_Council_... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9rDqvSP4AY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9rDqvSP4AY https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/03/11/pledging-allegiance-beijing-purged-entire-generation-political-talent-legislature/ https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/03/11/pledging-allegiance-be...
- salty_biscuits 7y ago
  Wow, watching the video that is a strong protest! Thanks for the clarification.

I didn't think Hong Kong was particularly democratic. Free market but doesn't it have system where the electorate votes for some seats and business interests vote for others?

hadrien01 7y ago

The city of London has the same voting system (sort of)

jackvalentine 7y ago
Same with the City of Melbourne - I worked for a small company there and got to cast our two votes in the council elections.

bobthepanda 7y ago

The fact that there‘s any independent political parties responding to citizen concerns is the destabilizing factor.

FabHK 7y ago

Yes, basically (35 seats for "geographical constituencies", ie districts, and 35 seats for "functional constituencies", ie industries and the like). The opposition used to get enough seats to hold the pro-Beijing camp in check somewhat (with veto power on constitutional reforms), but after the (entertaining, but ex post unfortunate) oath-taking controversy [1] in 2016, six members-elect were disqualified, after Beijing "interpreted" the Basic Law of Hong Kong to "clarify" it (as it is entitled to do under the Basic Law). Now the one-thirds minority to block constitutional changes is gone. EDIT to add: Still, it's much too democratic for China! [1] Among the antics: legislators held a "Hong Kong is not China" banner, mispronounced "People's Republic of China" as "people's re-fucking of Chee-na" (the latter a derogatory term), and spent about ten minutes reading the 80-word oath in extreme slow motion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Legislative_Council_oath-taking_controversy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Legislative_Council_... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9rDqvSP4AY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9rDqvSP4AY https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/03/11/pledging-allegiance-beijing-purged-entire-generation-political-talent-legislature/ https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/03/11/pledging-allegiance-be...

salty_biscuits 7y ago
Wow, watching the video that is a strong protest! Thanks for the clarification.