Oath protest
Walkout prevents HK duo from taking oath
Hong Kong’s legislature descended into chaos as the pro-Beijing camp blocked the swearing in of two new lawmakers.
HONG KONG: Dozens of pro-Beijing lawmakers walked out of the Hong Kong legislature to prevent the swearing-in of two pro-independence activists, setting the scene for a new constitutional crisis in the Chinese-controlled city.
The topic of independence has long been taboo in the former British colony, now governed under the “one country, two systems” principle since its return to Communist Partyruled China in 1997. The government failed in an unprecedented legal attempt to halt the swearing-in of the two newly elected legislators, Baggio Leung, 30, and Yau Wai-ching, 25, on Tuesday evening.
But High Court judge Thomas Au did approve the government’s request for a judicial review of the case, which will take place early next month.
The pro-China lawmakers yesterday marched out of the Legislative Council chamber, leaving Chinese and Hong Kong flags in their place, to deprive it of a quorum.
Senior pro-establishment lawmaker Regina Ip said she generally disapproved of walkouts, but the legislators had no option after the pair refused to apologise for “insulting our motherland”.
“This is a very exceptional case involving a fundamental principle which involves loyalty to your country and adherence to our oath of upholding the ... law,” she said.
Yau said it was the pro-establishment camp that needed to apologise as they were “the ones who really betrayed the Hong Kong people”.
New legislative president Andrew Leung, himself a pro-establishment figure, stood by his defiance of government efforts to ban Yau and Leung.
“They are duly elected ... and I have a constitutional duty to safeguard their rights to fulfil their duties as Legislative Council members,” he said.