Repression by Proxy in Hong Kong: The Dark Side of Election Interference The sentencing of unemployed man Lam Kin sik to a suspended jail term for reposting a call to boycott the Legislative Council election has raised questions about Beijing's influence over Hong Kong's electoral process.
On its surface, this appears to be another example of the city's draconian laws silencing dissenting voices. However, scratch beneath the surface and a more sinister narrative emerges.
The 2019 protests that swept Hong Kong were sparked by citizens' demands for greater autonomy from Beijing and an end to the "one country, two systems" framework.