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By CHEN ZIMO and TOMMY YUEN in Hong Kong | China Daily | Updated: 2020-11-14 12:34
Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows the national flag of China and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong, China. [Photo/Xinhua]
About two-thirds of lawmakers in Hong Kong’s legislature pledged on Friday to fulfill their duties to monitor and improve government governance and work with the people of Hong Kong to get through the tough times the city is facing.
The legislature will maintain a vigorous and cooperative relationship with the government, Martin Liao Cheung-kong, convenor of the pro-establishment lawmakers in the Legislative Council and a lawyer, told a press conference.
Therefore, the remaining legislators will be proactive in deliberating each bill, budget and policy proposal put forward by the government and will reflect the different voices of society in a timely manner, Liao said.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress announced on Wednesday that members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council will be disqualified from office once it is determined by law that they have not met the legal requirements to respect the Basic Law of the Special Administrative Region. Hong Kong and fulfill the Undertaking. of loyalty to the HKSAR.
So far, 43 lawmakers have decided to stay in office for the extended term of the sixth legislature. Forty-one is from the pro-establishment camp. The other two are Cheng Chung-tai and Pierre Chan, who did not join the 41 during the conference.
Subsequently, the Hong Kong government disqualified four lawmakers: Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, Dennis Kwok Winghang, Kwok Ka-ki, and Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong. They were previously barred from running for the seventh legislature because counting officers found they were not complying with the Basic Law.
The four ousted lawmakers deserved to be disqualified, given their indiscriminate opposition to every bill and budget submitted to the legislature, and for seeking sanctions against China and the SAR of foreign countries, Liao said.
However, observers noted that 15 other legislators who resigned were simply taking a political stance to gain international attention.
Another lawmaker, Starry Lee Wai-king, said it was irresponsible for the 15 lawmakers to create such a political sham just to confront the central government. He said the legislature will work with the government to make the best use of the extended legislative year to address pressing issues in Hong Kong, such as rising unemployment and other deep-seated issues.
Hong Kong CEO Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor criticized the four lawmakers on her social media account for pressuring the United States to enforce sanctions against the city and failing to consider Hong Kong’s interests and the survival of Hong Kong. local industries amid the pandemic and recession.
Hong Kong’s maritime industries, which have helped the city become a hub for international shipping, were hit by unilateral sanctions from Washington amid the pandemic crisis, Lam said.
He added that some shipping lines moved their business out of Hong Kong after US sanctions were imposed, undermining previous efforts by the government to support industries such as tax concessions, an aviation and maritime training fund, and the establishment from overseas offices for Hong Kong shipping registration.
