Hong Kong goes for political overhaul, passes pro-China election law: All you need to know 

Hong Kong's legislature has approved an overhaul of its political system, in a decisive step to assert Beijing's authority over the city. The changes will reduce the proportion of seats in the legislature that are occupied by direct elections. Also, a new body will be set up which will vet candidates based on their ‘patriotism’. Here’s all you need to know about Hong Kong’s new election rules. 

Hong Kong's Opposition-devoid legislature has approved Beijing's overhaul of its political system which reduces the number of directly elected seats and will freeze out most of China critics. The changes to Hong Kong’s elections come as Beijing further tightens control over the semi-autonomous city that saw months of anti-government protest and political strife in 2019. The Hong Kong legislature on Thursday passed a bill amending electoral laws that drastically reduces the public’s ability to vote and increases the number of pro-Beijing lawmakers making decisions for the city. The new changes will ensure a large majority of lawmakers are selected by a reliably pro-Beijing committee and that every candidate must first be vetted by national security officers.