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HONG KONG: Hong Kong disqualified four members of the opposition from its legislature on Wednesday (Nov. 11) shortly after the Chinese parliament adopted a resolution allowing the city executive to expel lawmakers without going through court. .
The expulsions came shortly after the Chinese parliament adopted a resolution allowing the city executive to expel lawmakers deemed to support Hong Kong’s independence, collude with foreign forces, or threaten national security, without going through the courts.
The 19 pan-democratic members of the 70-seat city legislature threatened on Monday to resign en masse if any of them were disqualified, saying that would reflect their unity and show just how far Beijing was willing to go to crush the opposition.
While the city’s Legislative Council is controlled by a pro-Beijing camp, the resignations of its pro-democracy lawmakers would make it a rubber stamp.
Members of the opposition have tried to oppose what many in the former British colony see as Beijing’s increasingly strict control over the financial center, despite the promise of a high degree of autonomy.
“My mission as a legislator to fight for democracy and freedom cannot continue, but I would certainly continue it if the people of Hong Kong continue to fight for Hong Kong’s core values,” one of the disqualified members of the assembly told reporters. , Kwok Ka-Ki. .
China denies having invaded Hong Kong’s freedoms, but authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have moved swiftly to suppress dissent after anti-government protests erupted in June last year and plunged the city into crisis.
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The city government said in a statement that the four lawmakers, Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung, were expelled from the assembly for endangering national security. He did not elaborate.
They were among 12 lawmakers who were previously disqualified from running in a legislative election, now postponed, for various reasons, including collusion with foreign forces and opposition to the new national security law.
‘IGNORE RIGHTS’
The disqualifications are likely to add to concerns in the West over Hong Kong’s autonomy, promised under the “one country, two systems” formula when Britain handed it over to China in 1997, as Joe Biden prepares to replace Hong Kong. Donald Trump as President of the United States. promising to promote democracy around the world.
“This completely violates the proper procedures of ‘one country, two systems’ and ignores basic human rights,” Dennis Kwok told reporters.
The decision by the highest decision-making body of the Chinese parliament comes amid the frustration of pro-Beijing circles in Hong Kong over what they see as “delaying tactics” by the opposition to obstruct the legislation.
Filibustering has long been common in Hong Kong, where only half of the 70 seats in the legislature are elected and the other half are packed with pro-Beijing figures.
This month, eight opposition politicians were arrested in connection with a May Legislative Council meeting that descended into chaos.
On June 30, Beijing introduced comprehensive national security legislation in the city, punishing anything that China considers subversion, secessionism, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.
Since then, the authorities have removed some pro-democracy books from libraries, banned certain songs and other activities in schools, declared some slogans illegal and raided the newsroom of an anti-government tabloid.
Critics say the authorities are trying to kill the momentum of the pro-democracy movement. Government supporters say authorities are trying to restore stability to China’s freest city after a year of unrest.
