China effectively bars 2 Hong Kong lawmakers from office

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China effectively bars 2 Hong Kong lawmakers from office 
GERRY SHIH, Associated Press
KELVIN CHAN, Associated Press

 

BEIJING (AP) — China's top legislature effectively barred two democratically elected separatist lawmakers from taking office in Hong Kong with a ruling Monday on the city's constitution, an intervention into a local political dispute that's likely to spark further turmoil in the southern Chinese city.

 

The National People's Congress Standing Committee in Beijing said it adopted an interpretation of an article in Hong Kong's mini-constitution on oath-taking. It acted after a provocative display of anti-China sentiment by two newly elected pro-independence Hong Kong lawmakers at their swearing-in ceremony last month.

 

Thousands of people protested in Hong Kong on Sunday, demanding that China's central government stay out of the political dispute, saying the move would undermine the city's considerable autonomy and independent judiciary. Police used pepper spray and batons to contain some of the demonstrators, arresting two.

 

In issuing the interpretation, the National People's Congress Standing Committee said talk of independence for Hong Kong is intended to "divide the country" and severely harms the country's unity, territorial sovereignty and national security.

 

The interpretation says that those who advocate for independence for Hong Kong are not only disqualified from election and from assuming posts as lawmakers but should also be investigated for their legal obligations.

 

Lee Cheuk-yan, a former pro-democracy lawmaker who was among the protesters, said Hong Kong residents were concerned that Beijing was encroaching on their relative freedoms, such as freedom of speech and expression.

 

"We may not agree with the two (newly elected lawmakers), their language, but we have to protect their rights because they are elected members," Lee said. "If (Beijing) can deprive them this time, they can deprive others because of other speeches or language or protest."

 

After the protest march, several thousand people protested in the evening outside Beijing's liaison office. Police used pepper spray and batons on demonstrators amid some scuffling.

 

Some protesters wore face masks and hoisted open umbrellas — symbols reminiscent of student-led pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014 that swelled to such numbers they blocked key Hong Kong streets.

 

Helmeted police officers with shields stood in several rows, creating a blockade against the protesters. "Open the road! Open the road!" the demonstrators chanted, as police warned them not to charge.

 

Senior police superintendent Tse Kwok-wai said police arrested two men, aged 39 and 57, one for obstructing police work and the other for failing to show his identity card. "Police strongly condemn protesters for breaking the law," Tse said.

 

Demonstrators held signs reading "Defend the rule of law" and calling for the city's Beijing-backed chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, to step down.

 

Some said that if China's top legislative panel issued its own interpretation on oath-taking, it would effectively undermine a Hong Kong court's ongoing review of the case.

 

"In (the) long run, that will damage our confidence in the court," said Alvin Yeung, a legislator.

 

The legislative panel in Beijing said the words and actions of the two Hong Kong lawmakers — Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching — "posed a grave threat to national sovereignty and security," Xinhua reported.

 

If such a situation were to persist, the Standing Committee said, it would hurt the interests of Hong Kong's residents and China's progress. "The central government cannot sit idly and do nothing," it said.

 

The interpretation involves an article in Hong Kong's constitution, known as the Basic Law, that covers oaths taken by lawmakers.

 

Last month, Leung, 30, and Yau, 25, who are from the radical Youngspiration party, altered their oaths to insert a disparaging Japanese term for China. Displaying a flag reading "Hong Kong is not China," they vowed to defend the "Hong Kong nation." Leung crossed his fingers, while Yau used the F-word in her pledge.

 

Their oaths were ruled invalid, but subsequent attempts have resulted in mayhem in the legislature's weekly sessions.

 

Saturday's comments indicated that the Standing Committee intended to use its interpretation of the article to send a strong message against separatism — and could ultimately lead to the democratically elected lawmakers' disqualification from office.

 

Such an outcome would be favorable to China's Communist leaders, who are alarmed by the former British colony's burgeoning independence movement, but is also likely to plunge their troubled relationship into fresh turmoil.

 

Maria Tam, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, told reporters in Beijing on Saturday that the Standing Committee has the "final say" on the dispute, and that Hong Kong's highest court would accept the panel's interpretation as binding.

___

Chan reported from Hong Kong. Associated Press writer Gillian Wong in Beijing and videojournalist Josie Wong in Hong Kong contributed to this report.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-11-07

[Thakkar]

Years ago, initially, the most outspoken Honkongers were simply asking that Beijing stand by the commitments it had made publicly, in writing and by treaty. More people, and especially the young, have become increasingly radicalized as Beijing, in collusion with the Beijing -controlled HK legislators and HK Chief executive systematically blocked every peaceful path to the fulfillment of those promises.

 

this particular case was being examined by the HK courts according to HK law. Beijing's issuing of this decree in the midst of this process is blatant and unnecessary interference. It will only serve to further radicalize even more Hongkongers.

 

T

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, Thakkar said:

Years ago, initially, the most outspoken Honkongers were simply asking that Beijing stand by the commitments it had made publicly, in writing and by treaty. More people, and especially the young, have become increasingly radicalized as Beijing, in collusion with the Beijing -controlled HK legislators and HK Chief executive systematically blocked every peaceful path to the fulfillment of those promises.

 

this particular case was being examined by the HK courts according to HK law. Beijing's issuing of this decree in the midst of this process is blatant and unnecessary interference. It will only serve to further radicalize even more Hongkongers.

 

T

Dear Thakkar welcome to the new world order of things. Other countries even western ones are watching how China deals with HK and if they get away with it it will be coming to your home country in the near future. I cannot imagine how the west can sit down and sign trade treaties with these underhanded liars. Oh I forgot the west represents big business and they are in the same lying thieving category. 

[DipStick]

As a British subject who lived and worked in HK for twenty years, and was there during the 1997 handover, I am not surprised this friction is happening now.

the two young self centred idiots who refuse to comply with the rules and laws of HK in their oath taking, in my opinion, are deliberately trying to provoke China. Let's not forget HK is part of China, but the one country two systems is being abused by these two. China has handed down a decision, which sadly they have every right to do.

So you read, the HK Police are the ones trying to calm demonstrations, I am not a china supporter, although I now live and work there, but think about what could happen, China could unleash the dogs of war from their HK based Kowloon Tong military barracks and take over the HK security operations from the HK Police. They could turn HK into another Tianaman but they haven't YET. How much more do they need to be goaded by two unqualified so called Politicians before the patience snaps.

 

 

[tonbridgebrit]

Obviously, the election in America has removed this bit of news from the front pages.

Okay, what has happened here ? Let's get real. From the OP,  " Last month, Leung, 30, and Yau, 25, who are from the radical Youngspiration party, altered their oaths to insert a disparaging Japanese term for China. Displaying a flag reading "Hong Kong is not China," they vowed to defend the "Hong Kong nation." Leung crossed his fingers, while Yau used the F-word in her pledge. "

Youngspiration used a disparaging Japanese term for China. They are a disgrace, and should be banned. These people obviously don't know about history.  During World War Two, yes, Germany killed a huge number of people in Europe. What about Japan ? Japan killed as many in Asia as Germany did in Europe, maybe more. If politicians in Europe make comments that trivialise or support the mass murder that took place in Europe, well, most of us would agree that they should be banned.



Some people in Hong Kong went and took part in a demonstration, to protest against these two people being barred. How many took part ?  Now, bearing in mind that these two people were democratically elected, well, you would have thought that barring them would be regarded as an outrageous act. Surely, this is a very good reason to have a demonstration ?  Have a demonstration against Beijing "interfering" with Hong Kong politics. 

And yet, only about 11,000 people took part in this demonstration. There are about 7 million people in Hong Kong, all of them are free to turn up and be part of the demonstration. Yet, only about eleven thousand bothered to turn up. Why ?  Is it because most people in Hong Kong simply don't care ? Or is it because, even for those who are interested in politics, they simply don't want to support Youngspiration ?