Oh, Hong Kong, you’ve gone and made politics feel like a trip back to primary school, haven’t you? The Legislative Council’s shiny new Code of Conduct, unveiled on 3rd July 2025 by chairman Andrew Leung, is the latest masterpiece in bureaucratic comedy—a rulebook so strict it could double as a detention slip for naughty schoolkids. “Don’t undermine the prestige of governance,” Leung scolds, sounding like a headmaster catching you chewing gum in class. But this isn’t just about keeping MPs in line; it’s a chapter in a longer saga of tightening control, dressed up as a playground rulebook.
Let’s rewind the tape. Hong Kong’s Legislative Council hasn’t exactly been a hotbed of rebellion since the National Security Law crashed the party in 2020. That law, a Beijing-backed sledgehammer, was introduced to squash dissent after the 2019 protests, which saw millions take to the streets over an extradition bill and broader fears of eroding freedoms. The fallout? Mass arrests, disqualified lawmakers, and a legislature purged of anyone who didn’t salute the “patriots-only” mantra. By 2021, electoral reforms ensured only those deemed sufficiently loyal could run for office, turning LegCo into a cheerleading squad for the government. Fast forward to 2025, and the new Code of Conduct is the latest nail in the coffin of free-wheeling debate, prompted by a need to ensure MPs don’t even think about stepping out of line.
Why tweak the rules now? The official line is that it’s about “upholding governance prestige,” but let’s not kid ourselves. Post-2019, the government’s been on a mission to make sure no legislator dares whisper anything that could be seen as disloyal. The 2020 expulsion of four pro-democracy lawmakers for “endangering national security” set the tone, followed by resignations and a near-total wipeout of opposition voices. The new code, with its vague warnings against “undermining” authority, is a natural sequel—Beijing’s way of ensuring the legislature stays as tame as a class of kids under the headteacher’s glare. It’s less about school rules and more about making sure no one dares doodle outside the lines.
And just for extra laughs, the Electoral Affairs Commission’s Proposed Guidelines for the 2025 Legislative Election, dropped on 4th July, double down on the control. Breach the National Security Law? You’re out of the race faster than a kid caught nicking biscuits from the staffroom. The public consultation (until 1st August) is about as meaningful as asking a toddler to vote on bedtime. These guidelines cement a system where only the “right” candidates get a seat, a direct response to the 2019 chaos when pro-democracy candidates swept district elections and embarrassed the establishment.
Picture it: MPs clutching their rulebooks, terrified of saying anything that might earn them a metaphorical dunce cap. The code’s so infantilising, you’d think they’d start handing out stickers for “best patriot.” But behind the black humour lies a grim truth—this is the culmination of years of clamping down, from the Umbrella Movement in 2014 to the 2019 protests, all leading to a legislature where dissent is as welcome as a fart in a lift. So, here’s to Hong Kong’s new era of lawmaking, where history’s taught us one thing: the tighter the rules, the less room there is for anything resembling democracy. Anyone for a game of hopscotch in the LegCo canteen?
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