Pro-Beijing committee to elect Hong Kong legislature members

The largely pro-Beijing committee which elects Hong Kong's leader will also choose some members of the legislature, a top Chinese official announced Friday as part of a major revamp that will increase Chinese control over Hong Kong politics. Wang Chen, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the announcement during the annual session in Beijing.

Wang added that the size, composition and formation method of the current election committee will also be adjusted, and that the chief executive will continue to be elected by the election committee. Currently, half of the city's 70-member Legislative Council is directly elected by voters, while the other half is elected by professional or special interest groups from sectors such as insurance, engineering and agriculture.

With the largely pro-Beijing election committee nominating all candidates for the legislature, opposition figures could be barred from running in the elections. Wang also told delegates there will be amendments to the Annex 1 and Annex 2, not involving the amendment of the main body of the Hong Kong Basic Law.

(Image Credit: AP)