Hong Kong Watch condemns the disqualification of four pro-democracy lawmakers and Beijing’s plans to purge all pro-democracy voices from Hong Kong’s Legislative Council
Today four Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers were disqualified from the Legislative Council following a ruling a new resolution passed by China's National People's Congress Standing Committee which states that ‘lawmakers should be disqualified if they support Hong Kong independence, refuse to acknowledge China's sovereignty, ask foreign forces to interfere in the city's affairs or in other ways threaten national security.’
Pan-democrats, Alvin Yeung, Kwok Ka-ki and Dennis Kwok of the Civic Party and Kenneth Leung of the Professionals Guild were disqualified by the Hong Kong authorities, which cited the lawmakers ‘failure to fulfil the requirements of a legislative council member’ as justification for their expulsion.
All four were previously barred from standing in the postponed Legislative Council elections which were due to take place on 6th September 2020.
Following the disqualification of the four pan-dems, all remaining pro-democracy lawmakers have resigned from the Legislative Council on-mass leaving the council without any opposition voices. Commenting on the decision to resign in solidarity with the four lawmakers, Democratic Party chief Wu Chi-wai said the Standing Committee’s resolution was ridiculous as it transferred all powers to the Chief Executive:
“It reflects that the central government has completely given up on the Basic Law and One Country, Two Systems.”
Commenting on the disqualifications and the Standing Committee’s resolution, Benedict Rogers, Hong Kong Watch’s Chief Executive said:
“This is a dark day for Hong Kong’s democracy. The move by Beijing to disqualify four pro-democracy lawmakers and the passing of a resolution that would purge pro-democracy voices from the Legislative Council is in direct contradiction to the ‘One Country, Two Systems model’. It will turn Hong Kong’s legislature into little more than a rubber stamp comprised of pro-Beijing acolytes, entirely unrepresentative of the people of Hong Kong.
Carrie Lam says that she wants a body composed of patriots, but there is nothing patriotic about vandalising Hong Kong’s democracy, undermining the Basic Law, and betraying her responsibility to serve all of the people of Hong Kong.
Beijing’s attempts to purge pro-democracy voices in Hong Kong will not stop at the doors of the Legislative Council chamber. Now that Hong Kong’s highest democratic body has been reduced to little more than a puppet-show, it will fix its sights on the judiciary. This will have significant ramifications for the rule of law and the city’s status as a common-law jurisdiction.”
Lord Chris Patten, the former Governor of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Watch patron said:
"This is yet another example of the Chinese Communist Party trampling on what is left of democracy in Hong Kong.
"Once again, Xi Jinping's regime has demonstrated its total hostility to democratic accountability, and those who wish to stand up for it."
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the former Foreign Secretary and also a patron of Hong Kong Watch said:
"Xi Jinping has now signed the death warrant for “two systems in One Country” which was the vision of his predecessor Deng Xiaoping. We salute the courage of the pro-democracy legislators who have resigned in protest. They are the giants. The Chinese Government are little more than bullies in comparison.”