A new political blueprint in Hong Kong drastically reduces the number of directly elected seats and controls who can run for office – Copyright AFP Tolga Akmen Holmes CHAN Hong Kong’s political elite will pick new city lawmakers on Sunday under Beijing’s “patriots only” rules that drastically reduce the number of directly elected seats and control who can run for office. It is the first legislature election overseen by a new political blueprint that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in response to massive and often violent pro-democracy protests two years ago. All candidates have been vetted for their patriotism and…