The ouster of Hong Kong lawmaker James Tien from the Chinese government’s top advisory body leaves him out of one of China’s most prestigious clubs, where actors hobnob with billionaires, and everyone hopes to get close to the top politicians.
Mr. Tien was dismissed on Wednesday by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference after he called on Hong Kong’s chief executive to resign in the face of pro-democracy protests. It marked an unprecedented punishment for apparently speaking out of turn, analysts say.
“To dismiss someone for saying something deemed politically incorrect sets a dangerous precedent,” particularly for an advisory body that purports to offer constructive critique on government policy, said Willy Lam, an expert on elite politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Centre for China Studies. “This would silence members of the establishment, discouraging them from speaking out for fear of being seen as challenging Beijing.”
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