China approves 'patriotic' plan to control elections in Hong Kong

The NPC's passage of the "draft decision" was all but assured, even though it was only placed on the agenda a week ago and the full text wasn't published before the vote

Chinese lawmakers approved an extensive overhaul of how Hong Kong chooses its leaders, a momentous step in Beijing’s efforts to curb opposition in the Asian financial hub’s political system.
 
The National People’s Congress passed near unanimously a proposal Thursday to change the size and composition of the body that picks the city’s chief executive, and have it nominate local legislators. The rubber-stamp parliament also called for establishing a vetting committee to ensure candidates for office are “patriots,” effectively ending the only open elections under Beijing’s rule.
 
“The upcoming electoral reform will change who can get into the city’s