China says it will pick Hong Kong’s next leader

A mainland official said this week that China will have the final say on who is elected leader of Hong Kong in 2017, crushing hopes that the upcoming election will be truly democratic, Reuters reported. Qiao Xiaoyang, chairman of the National People’s Congress law committee, made the remarks in a closed-door meeting, the transcript of which was posted online Wednesday. Hong Kong’s nomination committee will put forward candidates and elections will be held, but the winner will be subject to central government approval. Pro-democracy activists have promised to organize mass rallies to block traffic in Hong Kong’s business district should China not grant Hong Kong free elections.