London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

US secretary of state condemns passage of Hong Kong election bill

US secretary of state condemns passage of Hong Kong election bill

Antony Blinken says the bill ‘severely constrains people in Hong Kong from meaningfully participating in their own governance’.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned a measure the Hong Kong legislature passed on Thursday meant to align the city’s electoral process with Beijing’s declaration that only “patriots” can hold leadership roles there, changes that prompted America’s top diplomat to announce sanctions in March.

In the most significant restructuring of political and administrative systems of Hong Kong since its 1997 handover to Chinese sovereignty, the revamped system the Legislative Council (Legco) passed effectively leaves the viability of the city’s opposition candidates up to the decisions of an all-powerful committee dominated by pro-establishment figures.

“The Chinese government continues to undermine the democratic institutions of Hong Kong, denying Hong Kong residents the rights that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) itself has guaranteed,” Blinken said, adding that passage of the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021 “severely constrains people in Hong Kong from meaningfully participating in their own governance”.

“This legislation defies the Basic Law’s clear acknowledgement that the ultimate objective is the election of all members of the Legco by universal suffrage. We once again call on the PRC and the Hong Kong authorities to allow the voices of all Hongkongers to be heard.”

With nearly all opposition lawmakers ousted from their seats or having resigned in protest, their pro-establishment counterparts ensured smooth passage of the bill, with 40 pro-establishment lawmakers voting “yes”; two independent opposition members – Cheng Chung-tai and Dr Pierre Chan – remained against it.

Passage of the electoral reform bill followed Beijing’s imposition of a national security law last June and the mass arrest of Hong Kong opposition activists – moves that prompted Blinken and, before him, then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo to announce sanctions on Hong Kong government officials, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

Blinken sanctioned 24 mainland and Hong Kong officials in March for endorsing the National People’s Congress resolution that led to the legislation.

Those sanctioned by Blinken included Tam Yiu-chung, the city’s sole delegate to the NPC Standing Committee; Wang Chen, vice-chairman of the standing committee, who spearheaded the electoral overhaul; five top officers from the national security unit of the local police force, including Deputy Police Commissioner Edwina Lau, the unit’s leader.

The national security law, arrests and Thursday’s passage of the electoral reform bill were all part of Beijing’s response to social unrest that rocked Hong Kong in 2019.

Democratic Party chairman Lo Kin-hei, speaking to reporters outside the Legislative Council on Thursday after the elections reform bill was passed, said that most of the party’s supporters don't want it to run in the Legislative Council elections.


Blinken also pushed Hong Kong leaders to release those arrested in the opposition crackdown.

Seven of the 18 Democratic Party incumbents, as well as its former chairmen and deputies, are in remand over a raft of charges related to the 2019 social unrest, and two are serving suspended sentences.

“We also call on these authorities to release and drop charges against all individuals charged under the National Security Law and other laws merely for standing for election or for expressing dissenting views,” Blinken said.

“The United States stands united with our allies and partners in speaking out for the human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed to the people in Hong Kong by the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×