The resolution, approved by the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Assembly, states that lawmakers may be removed from office if they support Hong Kong’s independence, refuse to recognize China’s sovereignty, demand foreign powers to interfere in city affairs, or otherwise threaten national security. The resolution shows that China is trying to further strengthen its rule over the city.
–
Immediately after its adoption, the resolution was applied in the case of four Hong Kong legislators. They are Alvin Yeung, Kwok Kaki and Dennis Kwok of the Civic Party and Kenneth Leung of the Guild of Professionals, led by Dennis Kwok. In a parliament dominated by Pro-Beijing lawmakers, where the opposition had 19 seats out of seventy, he successfully used obstruction tactics in protracted negotiations. Kwok was supposed to defend the mandate in the postponed election, but the government rejected his candidacy because it was against the security law.
–
“We decided to resign today because our colleagues were ruthlessly expelled by the central government,” Wu Chi-wai, a representative of the opposition camp, told a news conference. “Although we will face many obstacles in the fight for democracy in the future, we will never give up,” he added. According to Wu, the resignation letters will be handed over by opposition deputies on Thursday.
–
The new steps come after China adopted a new security law in July, which criminalizes secession efforts, subversive activities and cooperation with foreign forces.
–
At the same time, in 1997, when Hong Kong returned to its administration, China committed itself to maintaining its own legal system, political pluralism and freedom of expression and assembly in the city for one year, in the spirit of the idea of one country, two systems.
—
