Politics of Hong Kong

China has sharply reduced the number of directly elected seats in Hong Kong's legislature in a setback for the democracy movement. The changes were announced on March 30 after a two-day meeting of China's top legislature.

China's top legislature approved amendments to Hong Kong's constitution on March 30 that will give Beijing more control over the makeup of the city's legislature.

China's parliament voted on March 11 for sweeping changes to Hong Kong's electoral system-- including powers to veto candidates - as Beijing moves to ensure that only "patriots" run the city following huge pro-democracy rallies.

Britain's foreign minister said he has spoken to "Five Eyes" allies about potentially opening their doors to Hong Kongers if Beijing's plans to impose a national security law on the city sparks an exodus.    

China's parliament approved plans on May 28 to impose a security law on Hong Kong that critics say will eradicate the city's promised freedoms.

The vote by the rubber-stamp National People's Congress came hours after the United States revoked the special status conferred on Hong Kong, paving the way for the territory to be stripped of trading and economic privileges.

A measure calling for "powerful" steps to curb Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement was submitted to China's rubber-stamp parliament on May 22, a move expected to fan fresh protests in the semi-autonomous financial hub.    

Joshua Wong (Demosisto) is one of the most prominent faces of Hong Kong's democracy movement and a leading figure in the "Umbrella Movement" which came into being in 2014. Together with hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers, the now 23-year-old is campaigning for free elections, reform of the voting system and democratization of the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong.

China has removed the head of its Hong Kong liaison office Wang Zhimin, according to a Jan. 4 post on the official website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

The move comes as sometimes violent protests roil Hong Kong in a months-long show of anti-Beijing sentiment.

The European Union on Nov. 19 called on all sides in Hong Kong to exercise restraint and said that any violence is "unacceptable".

Seven Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers were either detained or faced arrest on Nov. 9, a move that could escalate public fury a day after the death of a university student linked to months of anti-government protests in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

A student at a Hong Kong university who fell during protests over the weekend died on Nov. 8, the first student death in months of anti-government demonstrations in the Chinese-ruled city that is likely to be a trigger for fresh unrest.