Politically savvy approach, but completely ridiculous. HKers understand exactly what this bill would do to them.
Nothing makes me more angry than bureaucrats with bad intentions treating the people that pay their salaries like children.
> The leader of Hong Kong, the Chief executive, is currently elected by a 1200-member Election Committee, though Article 45 of the Basic Law states that "the ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures."
The election committee is more pro-CCP than the general Hong Kong populace, and the current leader, Carrie Lam, is widely held to be a puppet of Beijing.
longer version - she was elected by an electoral college carefully constructed to be pro-Beijing whilst superficially appearing representative. Votes must be publicly declared beforehand so Beijing can apply pressure.
Every single chief exec election has been a mess democratically speaking with extensive controversies, pressure from Beijing, veiled and not so veiled threats or talk of finding the trouble makers.