In August 2014 the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress decided that the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong should be directly elected in 2017 by universal suffrage. However, the candidates (expected to be two or three in total) will still have to be approved in advance by a nominating committee, whose composition and method of formation will remain unchanged from that of the 1200-person strong ‘Election Committee’ which elected the current Chief Executive in 2012. Critics argue that this nominating committee will have an in-built ‘pro-Beijing’ bias. The decision has triggered a wave of protest. This briefing summarises the legal context of recent events, including the UK's own obligations.
Universal suffrage to elect the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong in 2017: a legal primer (99 KB , PDF)
On 31 August 2014 the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC) decided that the next Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region should be directly elected in 2017 by universal suffrage. However, the candidates (expected to be two or three in total) will still have to be approved in advance by a nominating committee, whose composition and method of formation will remain unchanged from that of the 1200-person strong ‘Election Committee’ which elected the current Chief Executive in 2012. Critics argue that this nominating committee will have an in-built ‘pro-Beijing’ bias.
This decision has triggered a wave of protest in Hong Kong, led by a movement called Occupy Central, in which students are playing a major part. This short briefing summarises the legal context of recent events in Hong Kong, including the UK’s own obligations.
Universal suffrage to elect the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong in 2017: a legal primer (99 KB , PDF)
This briefing looks at the UK’s military contribution to the operations in Afghanistan, detailing the number of fatalities and casualties sustained by UK armed forces personnel; the cost of the operations; the number of aircraft missions flown; and the number of Afghan refugees that have come to the UK since 2001.
A briefing paper which "maps" (or summarises) the main elements of the United Kingdom's uncodified constitution.
What help can people receive from the consular service when they are abroad? This briefing highlights relevant guidance and discusses proposals for a legal right to consular assistance in cases involving human rights.
