Hong Kong High Court disqualifies two pro-independence lawmakers from taking office

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, Nov 16: Hong Kong’s High Court has disqualified two elected pro-independence lawmakers from the city’s legislature, a decision in tune with the standing committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC).

The High Court on Tuesday reiterated the same decision taken by the NPC a week earlier and declared Yau Wai-ching and Baggio Leung Chung –hang disqualified from taking office.

Image- Hong Kong Free Press
Image- Hong Kong Free Press

“The duo lawmaker from the pro-democracy Youngspiration party had ‘declined’ to take their oath and must therefore be disqualified. The outcome would be the same even without the Beijing’s ruling,” hongkongfp.com quoted Judge Thomas Au Hing-cheung as saying in its report Nov 15.

The two lawmakers found themselves at the center of the controversy after they held a flag reading “Hong Kong is Not China”, changed the wording of their oath and instead of China, they used the word ‘Chee-na’, a variation of the derogatory term ‘Shina’ used by the Japanese during the war against Chinese people.

The two pro-independence lawmakers elected in September have condemned the ruling and held a press conference.

“I must stress that, Leung Chun-hang and I were democratically elected lawmakers by 20,643 and some 30,000 voters respectively in the election in September this year,” Yau Wai-ching said.

“Elections are meaningless. The results of elections can be easily overturned,” Leung added.