Editing Hong Kong (section)

=== Political reforms and sociopolitical issues ===
{{Main|Democratic development in Hong Kong|Human rights in Hong Kong}}
[[File:A new banner on the lion rock -umbrellarevolution -umbrellamovement -occupyhk -occupyhongkong (16134715622).jpg|thumb|A yellow vertical protest banner which read "We demand real universal suffrage" was hung on [[Lion Rock]] during the [[2014 Hong Kong protests]]]]

Hong Kong is governed by a [[hybrid regime]] that is not fully [[Representative democracy|representative]] of the population. [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] members elected by functional constituencies composed of professional and special interest groups are accountable to these narrow corporate electorates and not the general public. This electoral arrangement has guaranteed a [[Pro-Beijing camp (Hong Kong)|pro-Beijing camp]] majority in the legislature since the handover. Similarly, the chief executive is selected by establishment politicians and corporate members of the Election Committee rather than directly elected.<ref name="hybridregime">{{harvnb|Cheng|2016|p=387}}.</ref> Despite [[universal suffrage]] being established as ultimate goals for the election of the chief executive and all members of the Legislative Council in [[Hong Kong Basic Law Article 45|Articles 45]] and 68 of the basic law,<ref>{{harvnb|Basic Law Chapter IV}} Articles 45, 68.</ref> the legislature is only partially directly elected, and the executive continues to be nominated by an unrepresentative body.<ref name="hybridregime" /> The government has been repeatedly petitioned to introduce direct elections for these positions, but has not introduced these direct elections as of 2024.<ref>{{harvnb|Wong|Lim|2017}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Ming|2006}}.</ref>

Ethnic minorities (except those of European ancestry) have marginal representation in government and often experience discrimination in housing, education, and employment.<ref>{{harvnb|Ngo|Cheung|2016}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Zhao|2015}}.</ref> Employment vacancies and public service appointments frequently have language requirements which minority job seekers do not meet, and language education resources remain inadequate for Chinese learners.<ref>{{harvnb|Chao|2013}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Lhatoo|2015}}.</ref> [[Foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong|Foreign domestic helpers]], mostly women from the Philippines and Indonesia, have little protection under regional law.<ref>{{cite web |last=Raquel Carvalho and Peace Chiu |date=25 February 2018 |title=Fed up with human trafficking, Hong Kong migrant workers hold vigil demanding justice |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2134591/fed-human-trafficking-hong-kong-migrant-workers-hold-vigil |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428161445/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2134591/fed-human-trafficking-hong-kong-migrant-workers-hold-vigil |archive-date=28 April 2023 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=[[South China Morning Post]]}}</ref> Although they live and work in Hong Kong, these workers are not treated as ordinary residents and do not have the right of abode in the territory.<ref>{{harvnb|"Meanings of Right of Abode and Other Terms", Immigration Department}}</ref> [[Sex trafficking in Hong Kong|Sex trafficking]] is also an issue,<ref>{{cite web |last=Tony Read |date=8 July 2016 |title=Hong Kong must lead the fight against human trafficking, rather than just do the bare minimum |url=https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1986535/hong-kong-must-lead-fight-against-human-trafficking-rather |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428161532/https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1986535/hong-kong-must-lead-fight-against-human-trafficking-rather |archive-date=28 April 2023 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=South China Morning Post}}</ref> local, mainland Chinese, and foreign women have been trafficked for sex in [[Prostitution in Hong Kong|brothels]], homes, and businesses in the city.<ref>{{cite web |last=Astrid Zweynert |date=22 October 2015 |title=New ways to help Hong Kong's human trafficking victims |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2015/1022/New-ways-to-help-Hong-Kong-s-human-trafficking-victims |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428161341/https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2015/1022/New-ways-to-help-Hong-Kong-s-human-trafficking-victims |archive-date=28 April 2023 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=[[Christian Science Monitor]] |publisher=[[Thomson Reuters Foundation]] |quote=The US State Department's 2014 Trafficking in Persons report said people from mainland China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Cambodia, and other Southeast Asian countries as well as Colombia, Chad, and Uganda had become victims of sex trafficking and forced labor in Hong Kong.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Jason Wordie |date=16 January 2016 |title=Human trafficking in Hong Kong: hidden in plain sight |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1901109/human-trafficking-hong-kong-hidden-plain-sight |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428161241/https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1901109/human-trafficking-hong-kong-hidden-plain-sight |archive-date=28 April 2023 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=[[South China Morning Post]] |quote=Likewise, legions of mainland prostitutes form a highly visible yet officially clandestine workforce in certain parts of Hong Kong. Many of these women, according to informed sources within the sex-worker sorority, have been trafficked.}}</ref>

The Joint Declaration guarantees the [[Basic Law of Hong Kong]] for 50 years after the handover.<ref name="Carroll181" /> It does not specify how Hong Kong will be governed after 2047, and the central government's role in determining the territory's future system of government is the subject of political debate and speculation. Hong Kong's political and judicial systems may be integrated with China's at that time, or the territory may continue to be administered separately.<ref>{{harvnb|Cheung|2016}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Cheung|2015}}.</ref> However, in response to [[2019–2020 Hong Kong protests|large-scale protests in 2019 and 2020]], the [[Standing Committee of the National People's Congress]] passed the controversial [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|Hong Kong national security law]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hernández |first1=Javier C. |title=Harsh Penalties, Vaguely Defined Crimes: Hong Kong's Security Law Explained |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/world/asia/hong-kong-security-law-explain.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701032003/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/world/asia/hong-kong-security-law-explain.html |archive-date=1 July 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The New York Times |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=30 June 2020}}</ref> The law criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign elements and establishes the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR, an investigative office under Central People's Government authority immune from HKSAR jurisdiction. Some of the aforementioned acts were previously considered protected speech under Hong Kong law.<ref name="NPC Observer" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Hong Kong National Security Law Promulgated, Came into Effect June 30, 2020 |url=https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/200701-hong-kong-national-security-law.html |website=[[Morrison & Foerster]] |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702163941/https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/200701-hong-kong-national-security-law.html |archive-date=2 July 2020 |date=1 July 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> The United Kingdom considers the law to be a serious violation of the Joint Declaration.<ref>{{cite web |last1=James |first1=William |title=UK says China's security law is serious violation of Hong Kong treaty |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-britain/uk-says-chinas-security-law-is-serious-violation-of-hong-kong-treaty-idUSKBN2425LL |website=Reuters |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=1 July 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702015311/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-britain/uk-says-chinas-security-law-is-serious-violation-of-hong-kong-treaty-idUSKBN2425LL |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2020, the Hong Kong Police arrested seven pro-[[democracy]] politicians over tussles with pro-Beijing politicians in the Legislative Council in May. They were charged with contempt and interfering with members of the council, while none of the pro-Beijing lawmakers were detained.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-54768209|title=Hong Kong pro-democracy politicians arrested|work=BBC News|date=November 2020|access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101110236/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-54768209|url-status=live}}</ref> Annual commemorations of the [[1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre]] were also cancelled amidst fears of violating the national security law.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hong Kong churches drop Tiananmen tributes after 33 years amid arrest fears |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/30/hong-kong-churches-drop-tiananmen-tributes-after-33-years-amid-arrest-fears |access-date=31 May 2022 |work=Agence France-Presse |via=The Guardian |date=30 May 2022 |language=en |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530185147/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/30/hong-kong-churches-drop-tiananmen-tributes-after-33-years-amid-arrest-fears |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2021, the Chinese central government unilaterally [[2021 Hong Kong electoral changes|changed Hong Kong's electoral system]] and established the [[Candidate Eligibility Review Committee]], which would be tasked with screening and evaluating political candidates for their "patriotism", effectively crushing the remainder of the [[Pro-democracy camp (Hong Kong)|pro-democracy camp]].<ref name="france2420210311"/>

In February 2024, [[Xia Baolong]], the head of the [[Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office]], said that the "[[one country, two systems]]" principle would be kept permanently.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cheung |first=Ezra |last2=Lo |first2=Hoi-ying |last3=Wu |first3=Willa |date=2024-02-26 |title=Hong Kong governing principle to be permanent feature, top Beijing official says |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3253216/beijing-attaches-great-importance-hong-kong-countrys-global-finance-hub-xia-baolong-tells-local |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240226191728/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3253216/beijing-attaches-great-importance-hong-kong-countrys-global-finance-hub-xia-baolong-tells-local |archive-date=26 February 2024 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>