China’s parliament voted overwhelmingly on Thursday in favor of a controversial draft plan that will increase Beijing’s control over Hong Kong’s electoral system, which has drawn criticism from the U.S.
The “patriots who rule Hong Kong” are a resolution that will allow a pro-Beijing panel to approve some candidates that it considers sufficiently “patriotic”, according to the BBC. The vote was 2,895-0, with one abstention, the report said.
President Xi Jinping and other party leaders watched as delegates voted electronically, according to the Associated Press. The next step is a formal bill, which could be implemented in the city in a few months, according to reports.
Earlier this month, State Department spokesman Ned Price called the election changes “a direct attack on Hong Kong’s autonomy, Hong Kong’s freedoms and the democratic process, limiting participation, reducing democratic representation and stifling political debate to challenge the clear will of the people. “
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the United States would continue to take action against “blatant violations of democracy and human rights in Hong Kong,” according to the Financial Times.
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Beijing has denied the claim and said the plan is vital to promoting stability in the city.
Reuters reported that “the changes virtually eliminate any possibility that the opposition will affect the outcome of the elections in the former British colony”.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said earlier this week that the city government “welcomes” changes to the city’s electoral system.
“There are gaps in electoral systems, there are also gaps in Hong Kong systems,” said Lam after returning from the National People’s Congress in Beijing. “I fully understand that this is not an issue that can be dealt with entirely by the government.”
“I am happy that the central authorities have again exercised their constitutional powers to help resolve this problem for Hong Kong,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report