The mass resignation of most of Hong Kong’s opposition over the ousting of four fellow legislators has been described by China as a ‘farce’ and an ‘open challenge’ to its authority.
On Wednesday, a resolution passed by Beijing said 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, according to a BBC report.
Immediately afterwards, Hong Kong dismissed four opposition members of the city’s Legislative Council under the rules of the new resolution. Beijing said the four were deemed a threat to national security.
Two of the ousted legislators, Dennis Kwok and Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, were among signatories of a letter to United States senators calling for sanctions on Hong Kong. The third, Kenneth Leung, is accused of indirectly supporting sanctions after attending a press conference on the matter following a trip to the US, while local reports said the fourth man, Kwok Ka-ki, was accused of having a ‘purported intention’ to ask foreign powers to sanction Hong Kong.
Later in the day, another 15 pro-democracy lawmakers announced they would resign in solidarity. The city’s 70-seat legislature has 21 opposition members, usually referred to as non-establishment. Only two of those will now remain in the parliament.
Critics say the move by China is a further restriction on Hong Kong’s rights, including freedom of speech. Beijing denies this, with its Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office condemning the mass resignation as ‘an open challenge’ against the Chinese government’s authority and the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini constitution.
It said the move revealed a ‘stance of stubborn resistance’ against the central government, adding: ‘If these lawmakers hope to make use of their resignation to provoke radical opposition and beg for foreign interference, they have miscalculated.’