September 12, 2014

Rift between China and Hong Kong widens

located:	China
editor:	Vanessa Ellingham

Last week China announced it would not permit open nominations for the post of Hong Kong chief executive next time it comes up for renewal in 2017, breaking the deal made with the UK when the city state was returned to China in 1997.

Back then, Hong Kong was given back to China under the condition that it would retain its own way of life for the next 50 years.

Well, it's not 2047 yet, but already China appears to be breaking the international treaty and Hong Kong's constitution by limiting the people's ability to make decisions about their governance.

It appears the timeline is being accelerated, forcing citizens to consider what reintegration into China's system might mean, especially it it comes sooner than expected.

Hong Kong's citizens already have some experience with having their chief executives chosen for them, both times creating tensions over the control Beijing was assuming by selecting Hong Kong's leaders on their behalf.

Protestors against this level of control have been out in force in recent months, but pro-Beijing demonstrators have hit the streets too, raising questions over the authenticity of protests with a propaganda machine appearing to be at work behind the scenes.