China advisers meet amid pandemic, Hong Kong crackdown

China’s high legislative advisory physique opened its annual session Thursday towards the background of a crackdown on Hong Kong’s political opposition and the nation’s restoration from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his opening handle, the pinnacle of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Wang Yang, pledged assist for calls that solely “patriots” who present undivided loyalty to the ruling Communist Party ought to be allowed to carry elected workplace in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous southern Chinese metropolis the place Beijing imposed a sweeping nationwide safety legislation final yr.

“We will strengthen unity and friendship with our compatriots overseas and in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and conduct studies and consultations on fostering patriotism among young people in Hong Kong and Macao,” Wang instructed delegates within the hulking Great Hall of the People within the coronary heart of Beijing.
Taiwan is a self-governing democracy that China claims as its personal territory.
Wang, the get together’s fourth rating member, additionally stated the CPPCC contributed to local-level efforts to finish the COVID-19 outbreak within the nation, the place no new circumstances of native transmission have been reported for greater than two weeks.

The CPPCC has no legislative powers of its personal however is remitted to conduct analysis and provide proposals to the ceremonial parliament, the National People’s Congress, which begins its annual session on Friday.
With COVID-10 on the wane within the nation, the management determined to carry the periods on the standard dates in March, relatively than delay them till May as they did final yr. However, the conferences are shorter this yr and media protection is being carried out remotely.