China bans Hong Kong lawmakers from legislature
expletives and derogatory terms, and draping themselves with “Hong Kong is not China” flags.
They were initially granted a second chance at swearing in but authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have stepped in to prevent that.
Beijing’s intervention preempts a decision by Hong Kong’s High Court into whether Baggio and Yau should be disqualified from taking up their seats. That court decision is still pending.
Pro-independence protesters clashed with police on Sunday night in anticipation of Beijing’s ruling, with riot officers firing pepper spray on the crowds.
In a rare interpretation of Hong Kong’s Constitution yesterday, Beijing said any oath taker who does not follow the prescribed wording of oath, “or takes the oath in a manner which is not sincere or not solemn”, should be disqualified.
Beijing’s Foreign Ministry said yesterday that the move would “cap pro-independence forces” and safeguard Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.
City leader Leung Chun-ying said he would “fully implement” Beijing’s ruling.
Leung also said the emergence of the pro-independence movement had put a controversial anti-subversion security law, Article 23, back on the table.
That was previously shelved after massive public protests in 2003 which feared it would lead to suppression.
Hong Kong is a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a promise of “one country, two systems” for 50 years. But there are deep concerns those liberties, enshrined in the city’s constitution known as the Basic Law, are at risk.
As frustrations build, an independence movement demanding a split from Beijing has emerged. Yau and Baggio are among several new lawmakers advocating self-determination or independence who won seats in citywide polls in September.
Beijing sees any talk of independence as treasonous.
Li Fei, the chairman of the Basic Law Committee of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, said: “These Hong Kong independ- ence figures are going against the country and splitting the country. How can they uphold Hong Kong’s Basic Law?”
Both those promoting independence and those arguing for self-determination were supporting separatism, he said – anathema to Beijing.
Yesterday’s announcement was the fifth time since the 1997 handover that China has interpreted the Basic Law.
Yau and Baggio have yet to be sworn in to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, after their first oath attempt was declared invalid.
Asked if there would be a byelection for their seats, Legco president Andrew Leung said yesterday the legislature would await the High Court’s decision before taking any action.