The United States, the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have issued a joint statement expressing “grave concerns” over the Legislative Council elections in Hong Kong, in which only pro-Beijing loyalists were approved to run. Foreign ministers of the five countries, which make up the “Five Eyes” alliance, said they were concerned over “the erosion of democratic elements” of Hong Kong’s electoral system. The elections were originally set to take place in September 2020, but were postponed by the local government, citing public health risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But pro-democracy critics claimed that it was an excuse to delay the vote. In March 2021, China’s rubber-stamp legislature approved electoral changes for Hong Kong that would effectively bar democratic representatives from occupying key positions. As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime vetted the candidates so that only “patriots” could run, pro-democracy candidates are now largely absent. The Dec. 19 …