Is Hong Kong’s Civil Service still professional and meritocratic? Are its key positions filled by individuals who command the confidence of their colleagues and the community and owe their appointments only to their own abilities?
Is the SAR Government writing its own Budget on the basis of its own policies, or is it under pressure to respond to objectives dictated by Beijing?
Is the Hong Kong Monetary Authority managing Hong Kong’s Exchange Fund without outside interference?
Is Hong Kong behaving in a truly autonomous way in international economic organizations?
Is the Hong Kong legislature passing laws in response to the aspirations of the Hong Kong community and the policies of the SAR Government, or is it legislating under pressure from Beijing?
Are Hong Kong’s courts continuing to operate without interference?
Is the Independent Commission Against Corruption continuing to act vigorously against all forms of corruption including cases in which China’s interests may be involved?
Is Hong Kong continuing to maintain its own network of international law enforcement liaison relationships?
Is the integrity of the Hong Kong/Guangdong border being maintained, including the separate border controls operated by the Hong Kong Immigration Department?
Is the Hong Kong press still free, with uninhibited coverage of China and of issues on which China has strong views?
Are new constraints being imposed on freedom of assembly? Are the annual commemorations and vigils of recent years still being allowed?
Are foreign journalists and media organizations in Hong Kong still free to operate without controls?
Is anybody being prosecuted or harassed for the peaceful expression of political, social, or religious views?
Are Hong Kong’s legislators, at successive stages of the transition, fairly and openly elected, and truly representative of the community?
Are democratic politicians continuing to play an active role in Hong Kong politics, or are they being excluded or marginalized by external pressure?
Is the Chief Executive exercising genuine autonomy in the areas provided for in the Joint Declaration and Basic Law?