Yesterday, the agenda of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress was all of a sudden topped up with the Hong Kong version of National Security Law, which signalled the green light for every party to go ahead with the legislation. It is believed that it will be passed by the end this month. Notwithstanding Beijing laying stress on the law directed against just a handful of people, the delineation between a handful and an abundance is subject to how Beijing likes it. Some democrats alleged that a go-between from the mainland had recently given them a “cue” that those who are openly opposed to the law would have problems with their rights to be elected. With regard to the hint, the National Security Law is not aimed at a handful of people, but the entire pro-democracy camp.

One of the abovementioned democrats said that after the resolution to table the National Security Law for Hong Kong was passed, a go-between from the mainland sent out a text message, hoping that democrats would not openly object to the law; pointing out that it would only be aimed at a handful of people instead of all democrats, “but if the pro-democracy camp is publicly opposed to it, there will be some ramifications”; also insinuating that those going against it would be denied the right to be elected. The democrat is convinced that the same message has been received yet brushed aside by other pro-democracy parties, and none of them could stay silent and stomach it for the right to be elected.

He, thereby, indicated that the remarks of Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang implying disqualification of opponents from election were not mere empty rhetoric. “The plot has been scripted. The only reason for the Law being hastily pushed through is to disqualify the entire pro-democracy faction promptly before the Legislative Council election in September.” But as what he said, even though the incumbent lawmakers from the pro-democracy camp are disqualified from election, “the votes won’t be transferred to the pro-establishment camp by default, but to the our successors who could be even more difficult”.

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