#FailedState
One year after Democrats' Victory in District Council Election: HK Government Reinstalls Beijing Loyalists in Area Committee
In 2019 District Council Election, the pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong won a landslide victory; however, the directly elected district councillors have been facing retributive oppression and disfavor from the HKSAR government, as their discussions of certain issues have been banned and funding has been cut.
On the contrary, the defeated pro-Beijing party has received favorable treatment; the new-term Area Committee is unprecedentedly served by the lost pro-Beijing candidates instead of the incumbent councilors.
Though the Area Committee is not a statutory body, its functions highly overlap with the District Council's: government officials will attend the presentation and collect opinions there, at the same time it will receive funding for organizing local activities which helps nurturing the Committee members' regional connections. However, the Area Committee lacks transparency as the public will not be informed about the dates of meetings unless they check them at their local Committees.
Some District Councils have cancelled their appropriation budgets of the Committees to avoid the government using public money to fund its stalwarts. They also worried that the government's long-term and direct appropriation would pave the way for hollowing out the District Council with the Area Committee.
Source: Apple Daily #Nov19
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201119/PIWC6ZCSXFGC5IF5BJZQZVLOZA/
#ProvisionalCouncil #AreaCommittee #DistrictCouncil
One year after Democrats' Victory in District Council Election: HK Government Reinstalls Beijing Loyalists in Area Committee
In 2019 District Council Election, the pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong won a landslide victory; however, the directly elected district councillors have been facing retributive oppression and disfavor from the HKSAR government, as their discussions of certain issues have been banned and funding has been cut.
On the contrary, the defeated pro-Beijing party has received favorable treatment; the new-term Area Committee is unprecedentedly served by the lost pro-Beijing candidates instead of the incumbent councilors.
Though the Area Committee is not a statutory body, its functions highly overlap with the District Council's: government officials will attend the presentation and collect opinions there, at the same time it will receive funding for organizing local activities which helps nurturing the Committee members' regional connections. However, the Area Committee lacks transparency as the public will not be informed about the dates of meetings unless they check them at their local Committees.
Some District Councils have cancelled their appropriation budgets of the Committees to avoid the government using public money to fund its stalwarts. They also worried that the government's long-term and direct appropriation would pave the way for hollowing out the District Council with the Area Committee.
Source: Apple Daily #Nov19
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201119/PIWC6ZCSXFGC5IF5BJZQZVLOZA/
#ProvisionalCouncil #AreaCommittee #DistrictCouncil