- Title: Hong Kong residents express anger at China's intervention in legal system
- Date: 7th November 2016
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (NOVEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HONG KONG SKYLINE (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIVERSITY STUDENT, FLORA HO, SAYING: "I really feel angry about Yau Hui-Ching and Leung Zung-Hang, they both taking 'Sai Jin' (Oath taking) in that way. But the interpretation of Basic Law by Beijing is not the best way, I think, to control things, and I can see, through Beijing interference in the law, how harsh and how powerful China is throwing Hong Kong so I feel really angry." VARIOUS OF HONG KONG FINANCIAL DISTRICT (SOUNDBITE) (English) PUBLIC SERVANT, BEN LEUNG, SAYING: ''Because the government system in Hong Kong is a very fundamental system. It is the reason for the prosperity of Hong Kong and that (Beijing interference in the law) gives problems for the businessmen as well the other Hong Kongers to do what they want to do in Hong Kong. But the re-interpretation of the Basic Law is something like, set up a very weird example, to show the Chinese government has a very ultimate power to do what they like." MAN USING PHONE FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIVERSITY STUDENT, KENNETH WONG, SAYING: "It is bad for Hong Kong because the nominee, from Hong Kong, has the qualification to join the party (legislative council). If the head executive from the Chinese government (disturbs) the right of the nominee system, the freedom of Hong Kong citizens in (the) Basic Law is being ignored." EXTERIOR OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) OFFICE WORKER, KATHY CHAN, SAYING: "I think they are not respecting the law enough when they were taking the oath, but I think Hong Kong has our own law, so we can decide whether they can be the legislative council members or not." LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LOGO
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2016 06:22
- Keywords: Hong Kong Basic Law legislature reaction democracy
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00157G2NNP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
Hong Kong residents on Monday (November 7) expressed their anger after China moved to bar the island's independence activists.
China's parliament passed a ruling on Monday that effectively bars two Hong Kong pro-independence politicians from taking office, Beijing's most direct intervention in the territory's legal and political system since the 1997 handover.
The National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing ruled that lawmakers must swear allegiance to Hong Kong as part of China and that candidates would be disqualified if they changed the wording of their oath of office or if they failed to take it in a sincere and solemn manner.
The move came after pro-independence politicians Yau Wai-ching, 25, and Baggio Leung, 30, pledged allegiance to the "Hong Kong nation" and displayed a banner declaring "Hong Kong is not China" during a swearing-in ceremony for the city's legislative council in October.
"The interpretation of Basic Law by Beijing is not the best way, I think, to control things, and I can see, through Beijing interference in the law, how harsh and how powerful China is throwing Hong Kong so I feel really angry," said university student Flora Ho.
"The re-interpretation of the Basic Law is something like, set up a very weird example, to show the Chinese government has a very ultimate power to do what they like," said public servant Ben Leung.
The promotion of independence has long been taboo in the former British colony, governed under a "one country, two systems" principle, amid fears in Beijing it could spread among other activists and challenge the central government's rule.
The Basic Law grants China's NPC a power of interpretation above Hong Kong's highest court. While it has made four other rulings since the 1997 handover, this ruling is its first move to preempt an ongoing Hong Kong court case.
The move was expected to enrage Hong Kong democracy activists further, a day after hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police in running battles around China's representative office in Hong Kong. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None