LegCo resignations earn govt, civic condemnation

The collective resignation of Hong Kong opposition legislators is not only a betrayal of the public interest, but a flagrant challenge to central government jurisdiction over the city, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the top central government body dealing with the affairs of the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

The statement from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council came a day after 15 Hong Kong opposition lawmakers announced their resignation from the Legislative Council. The resignations followed the ousting of four lawmakers by the HKSAR government based on a resolution approved on Wednesday by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

The resolution stated that lawmakers would be removed or barred from running for the legislature if they advocate separatism, breach their oath of allegiance to serve the SAR, seek external intervention in Hong Kong's affairs or commit other acts endangering national security. It also applies to those who were disqualified from contending in the delayed Legislative Council election, which had been set for Sept 6.

The NPC Standing Committee's decision was meant to maintain the rule of law and constitutional order of the SAR and to benefit the orderly functioning of the legislature and social stability, according to the statement.

Yet, some opposition lawmakers denigrated the action, calling it a political crackdown, and they resigned in protest, the statement said. It added that the action exposed their intent to seek personal political gain in disregard of the public interest as well as challenging the NPC Standing Committee's decision and the Basic Law.

Action called miscalculation

The resignations are a miscalculated attempt to instigate confrontation and seek external forces' interference, the statement said. It said the move will not affect the legislature's operation and called on the remaining lawmakers to take action on pandemic control, economic revival and helping residents financially.

A statement released by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR said it is an international norm to ask public officers for loyalty to their country. It is also a fundamental requirement of the Constitution and the Basic Law, it said.

Yet, the office's statement said, a handful of lawmakers have broken their promises to be loyal to the political system, adding that they seek to disrupt constitutional order and paralyze the government by colluding with external forces.

Meanwhile, 554,141 Hong Kong residents signed an online petition started on Wednesday, hours after the SAR government disqualified the four lawmakers. The petition said they agreed that lawmakers should be loyal to the city and nation and that those who do not qualify should be removed from the legislature.

The petition was organized by the District Council Observers, a local citizens group.

Residents also lined up at over 80 street booths set up by different organizations in the city to sign a petition supporting the ouster of the four legislators－Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu of the Civic Party and Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong of the Professionals Guild.

Stanley Ng Chau-pei, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, the city's largest labor group and one of the street campaign's organizers, said the large turnout reflects peoples' sentiments.

"How could our city ever allow people who are unpatriotic, and disloyal to the country, to be our lawmakers?" he asked.

Xu Tianmin, 44, who signed at a booth at Sham Shui Po on Thursday morning, said he could not tolerate the opposition bloc's selfish "filibustering" anymore.

"During the pandemic, many residents like me, with little education, have just scraped by. But the opposition just aims to paralyze the LegCo, so I have not been able to get any of the financial assistance meant for new immigrants during this tough time," he said.