[ad_1]
The Hong Kong government has expelled four pro-democracy MPs from parliament who allegedly have broken their oaths. Beijing had previously decided that the seat could be withdrawn without a court order.
Hong Kong has expelled four democratic opposition politicians from the SAR parliament. The Hong Kong government announced that Alvin Yeung, Kwok Ka-ki, Dennis Kwok and Kenneth Leung were deprived of their seats following a decision by Beijing. The government said the four politicians will lose their mandates “with immediate effect.”
Beijing: It is possible to remove the seat without a court order
China’s state news agency Xinhua had previously published a decision by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress that Hong Kong deputies could be stripped of their seats without a court order if they advocate for Hong Kong’s independence, participate in activities that endanger national security or help foreign forces to do so. interfere in internal affairs.
The four politicians now excluded had already been excluded from the September parliamentary elections. However, this was later canceled and postponed until next year.
For days there has been speculation about such a decision in the Special Administrative Region of China. In the run-up to the decision to expel the MPs, an alliance of 19 Democratic MPs threatened on Monday to also withdraw from parliament. A decision is expected later in the day.
Alteration of parliament?
According to media reports, the four MPs have violated their oath by disturbing Parliament. As the Hong Kong newspaper “South China Morning Post” reported, they had participated in so-called filibusters. Ongoing consultations prevent a vote on proposed legislation.
Controversial security law since June
The decision of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress is another setback for the Hong Kong democratic movement. In the summer, China passed the so-called Hong Kong Security Law, which allows authorities to crack down on any activity they believe threatens China’s national security.
It is the most extensive invasion of Hong Kong’s autonomy to date and gives vast powers to China’s state security. The law has received massive criticism internationally and is the most extensive usurpation of Hong Kong’s autonomy to date.
With information from Ruth Kirchner, ARD Studio Beijing
