Political situation
Written by: Zheng Rongdi and Tang Jiaqi
2020-08-17 07:00
Last update date: 2020-08-17 07:00The government postponed the September Legislative Council election due to the epidemic. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress quickly passed the "Decision" to extend all members of the Legislative Council for another year. The outside world is focusing on whether the democrats will accept this unprecedented arrangement. In fact, apart from this, there are many places to discuss such an unprecedented event.
Tian Beijun, the convener of the "League of Hope" and the honorary chairman of the Liberal Party, who was originally scheduled to send three people to participate in the election of this Legislative Council, accepted an exclusive interview with "Hong Kong 01" to discuss the political and economic situation. During the interview, he did not change his "bad boy" character. sing a different tune. He criticized the government's actions by the 12 pro-democracy candidates for the "DQ" election this time for deficiencies. The red line was drawn after the nomination period. He pointed out that he had never seen any democratic country that could do this, and he smiled and said that he was striving for re-election. Trump should "hate to panic."
Tian also believes that if the Returning Officer's definition of the "red line" is not clear, the public will only be dissatisfied and blindly vote for the pan-democratic "Plan B", which will have a counterproductive effect on the establishment of the election.
Tian Beijun urged the government not to suddenly increase the "DQ" red line after the democrats have participated in the election, believing that the relevant measures will have counterproductive effects at any time. (Profile picture/Photo by Zhang Haowei)
Voters who worry about the fuzzy red line of DQ blindly vote for "Plan B" without resentment
This Legislative Council election can be described as setting many records. It not only set the precedent for the postponement of the election, but also shut out 12 non-establishment candidates in one fell swoop. "I have always been a little skeptical about the need to sign the confirmation letter." Tian Beijun's explanation once again demonstrated his "heterogeneous" style of establishment. He said half-jokingly that there is no democratically elected country in the world, and the ruler can review the qualifications of its challengers. He said with a joke that US President Trump also "hates to panic" and wants to introduce such a system. After the round, Biden won't even drive the election."
Tian Beijun also pointed out that in recent years, the Returning Officer has defined more and more "red lines". He believes that the government should clearly define the red lines beforehand, such as supporting Hong Kong independence or violating the four crimes of the National Security Act, rather than suddenly after candidates sign up. Adding a "red line" will only make the public dissatisfied, believing that the government will block the candidates it supports, which will have a counter-effect: "No matter who the DQ pushes anyone out to make "Plan B", even if they don’t know (the citizens) If there is no political achievement, voters will close their eyes and vote for it."
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Tian Beijun once discussed with the three "League of Hope" three sons about where to go in the coming year, but none of them has an answer. Tian Zhi himself advocates the middle route and hopes that society will be harmonious, but he is also disappointed now. (Photo by Gao Zhongming)
"Hope League" will fight again next year? Tian: I
am very grateful that Tian Beijun established the "League of Hope" only in March this year. Yuan Michang, Pan Zhuohong, and Li Qidi were originally scheduled to be sent out for the first time. Facing the sudden postponement of the Legislative Council election for one year, Tian Beijun revealed that he had discussed the past with the three sons, but none of them had an answer. Tian Zhi himself advocates a middle route and hopes to promote social harmony, but he is also disappointed at the moment, "If China and the United States are like this and Hong Kong is in the middle, how can there be harmony?"
In the end, Tian said, "Politics is too long for a day." One year later, it is too far away. It is hard to say whether the three of them are still interested in politics by then. I think the most important thing is whether his assessment of next year’s election will be the same as this year. "The possible result is 37 to 38 establishments, and 32 to 33 pan citizens. In this case, our 3 votes will become the key; but if so. Our few votes are not critical at all and have little meaning."
There is no expectation of governance in the coming year, which is like a "caretaker government"
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has passed the final plan for the "vacuum period" of the Hong Kong Legislative Council in the coming year. The current 66 legislators will be transferred from the original class, and the 4 current democratic legislators who have been disqualified from the election by the Returning Officer will all be elected. "Safe Landing" transition. However, Tian Beijun did not shy away from saying that he has no expectations for the Legislative Council in the next year, and he also feels that the legislators have no credibility. "The citizens choose you to do it for four years, just because of the epidemic."
He said frankly that in response to the epidemic, the government has not invested in other matters. The next year will be like a "guard government." He does not believe that the policy address can have any ambitious plans, and no public believes that the government can implement any plans. The only point is to pass the budget, and the establishment of the Legislative Council has enough votes to pass, the government will not tightly improve the "quality". He laughed and pointed out that no matter for the establishment or the pan-democratic legislators, it is worthy of congratulations. "Everyone has food and don't start working, it is a good job."
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The government plans to vote in the Greater Bay Area
Chief Executive Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor previewed the research and promotion of "overseas voting." He believes that Hong Kong is now integrated into the overall situation of national development. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a one-hour living circle and the right to vote of local Hong Kong people should be respected. Tian Beijun is worried about this move, questioning whether the voting system is mature enough to properly arrange for Hong Kong residents in the Greater Bay Area to vote locally.
He believes that the journey from the Greater Bay Area to Hong Kong is not far, and even if voters have time to return to Hong Kong to vote, it will only take a few hours. There is no need to "light a fire" for this. In addition, Hong Kong people do not trust the mainland's regulatory mechanism. It is easy to invite criticisms of "fake", and under the principle of fairness, Hong Kong residents in other areas may be allowed to vote locally, which consumes a lot of manpower and material resources and thinks it is not worth doing.
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