- Title: Thousands participate in pro-Beijing rally in Hong Kong
- Date: 13th November 2016
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (NOVEMBER 13, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ARRIVING FOR RALLY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SHOUTING SLOGANS SCREEN SHOWING VIDEO DENOUNCING PRO-HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE LEGISLATOR BAGGIO LEUNG (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 50-YEAR-OLD RALLY PARTICIPANT AND TRAVEL AGENT FROM JIANGSU PROVINCE, TAN YUNXIA, SAYING: "Hong Kong independence is absolutely impossible. This is something that billions of us Chinese, every one of us, cannot agree with. Hong Kong has always been Chinese territory, and you can't just cut out a part of our country, right? But there is only portion of people who will never gain the support of our entire countrymen. All of us across the country oppose them." DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER CLEMENT WOO POSING FOR PHOTO WITH RALLY PARTICIPANTS RALLY PARTICIPANTS MAKING "THUMBS DOWN" MOTION AND SAYING (Cantonese): "OPPOSE HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER CLEMENT WOO, SAYING: "It is so important that the central government thinks it is necessary to do so. Although there maybe some, you know, negative feelings, within Hong Kong, but why we are is that we would like to let people that there are still many Hong Kongers supporting this act from the central government." GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING/RALLY PARTICIPANTS GATHERED PARTICIPANTS GATHERED FOR RALLY/FLAGS PARTICIPANT HOLDING PLACARD READING (Chinese): "OPPOSE THOSE WHO INSULT CHINA/OPPOSE HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE" RALLY PARTICIPANTS SHOUTING SLOGANS AND HOLDING SIGNS (SOUNDBITE) (English) 26-YEAR-OLD ASSISTANT OF LAWMAKER, VINY TAM, SAYING: "I am here today to protect Hong Kong and China. Because I think many teenagers in Hong Kong (are) very against Hong Kong and China, and I don't think their point of view is correct." VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS SHOUTING SLOGANS AND RAISING FISTS
- Embargoed: 28th November 2016 10:38
- Keywords: Beijing independence Basic law protest
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00158A0W1X
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands gathered in Hong Kong on Sunday (November 13) to participate in a pro-Beijing rally outside the former British colony's government offices.
Participants gathered at around 4:00 p.m. (0800 GMT) and waved Chinese and Hong Kong flags while shouting slogans such as "oppose Hong Kong independence" and "support the interpretation".
The rally follows a decision by China's parliament to interpret Hong Kong's mini-constitution, or Basic Law, to effectively bar the independence lawmakers from taking their oaths of office.
Beijing's legal interpretation on Monday (November 7) said that oaths for Hong Kong lawmakers must be taken accurately, sincerely and solemnly for them to be valid, just as a local judicial review of the case was under way.
This came as the High Court was set to decide if pro-independence lawmakers Baggio Leung, 30, and Yau Wai-Ching, 25, may be disqualified after they displayed a "Hong Kong is not China" banner during a swearing-in ceremony in October which resulted in their oaths being invalidated.
Tan Yunxia, a tour agent from Jiangsu province who has lived in Hong Kong for 39 years, said all Chinese people must oppose Leung and Yau's open promotion of Hong Kong independence.
"Hong Kong independence is absolutely impossible. This is something that billions of us Chinese, every one of us, cannot agree with. Hong Kong has always been Chinese territory, and you can't just cut out a part of our country, right? But there is only portion of people who will never gain the support of our entire countrymen. All of us across the country oppose them," she said.
The event also drew many pro-establishment politicians and lawmakers.
District council member Clement Woo said that despite its unpopularity, it was necessary for Beijing to hold an interpretation of the oath-taking law for legislators.
Pro-Beijing rallies espousing patriotism like Sunday's are not uncommon sights in Hong Kong. Nearly two weeks ago a similar event was held which also managed to draw a crowd of several thousand. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None