Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has released a report warning that Hong Kong's autonomy is rapidly eroding under China's tightening grip, with legislative and judicial checks and balances severely weakened. The report, titled "Analysis Report: 29 Years After Hong Kong's Handover," was released ahead of the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China on July 1, 2026.
Report Highlights Growing Political Control
The assessment argues that Hong Kong's administration is increasingly mirroring the Chinese Communist Party's governance model, tightening influence over politics, education, society, the economy, and the judiciary. According to the report, Beijing continues to prioritize national security above all else, promoting patriotic education, expanding national security legislation, and aligning Hong Kong's external policies more closely with mainland China.
The MAC report noted that newly elected members of Hong Kong's eighth Legislative Council were instructed to support government policies rather than provide oversight. It also pointed to recent amendments to the implementation of Article 43 of the National Security Law and new procedural regulations that allow the chief executive to classify criminal cases as national security matters before legislative review.
Restrictions on Demonstrations and Freedoms
The council further noted that public demonstrations linked to May Day, June 4, and July 1 remain prohibited. Media freedom, artistic expression, and academic independence continue to face increasing pressure. The report also criticized revisions to school textbooks and official historical narratives, arguing they encourage political conformity at the expense of critical thinking.
Surveillance measures and tighter social controls have raised fears that Hong Kong is adopting Beijing's broader security model. Although Hong Kong's common law system still governs ordinary civil and commercial cases, the report said national security prosecutions continue to attract international criticism due to prolonged detentions and concerns over fair trial standards.
International Criticism and Implications
The report comes amid ongoing international scrutiny of China's policies in Hong Kong. The "one country, two systems" framework, which was promised to give Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy, is increasingly seen as eroded. The MAC's assessment warns that without meaningful checks and balances, Hong Kong's autonomy will continue to diminish under Beijing's tightening control.
