Revocation of qualifications for 4 Hong Kong pro-democracy councillors - following a decision of the NPC

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

香港民主派４議員の資格取り消し　全人代の決定受け

2020.11.11 Wed posted at 19:30 JST

（ＣＮＮ） 香港立法会（議会）の民主派議員４人が１１日、議員資格を取り消された。全国人民代表会議（全人代）常務委員会の決定を受けて、香港政府が発表した。

常務委ではこの日、立法会の議員が香港の独立を支持したり、香港に対する中国の主権を認めなかったりした場合、香港政府は裁判の手続きなしでその議員の資格を取り消すことができるとの決定を下した。

決定によれば、外国勢力による香港内政への介入を求めたり、国家の安全を脅かしたり、憲法に相当する「香港基本法」を守らなかったりした議員も対象となり、ただちに資格を失う。

常務委の決定に先立ち、立法会では民主派議員１９人が９日、一部議員の資格が取り消されたら全員で辞職すると表明していた。

資格取り消しとなった楊岳橋氏ら４人を含む民主派議員１２人は今年７月、香港基本法を守っていないとの理由で、立法会選挙に立候補する資格を取り消されていた。選挙は９月に実施される予定だったが、新型コロナウイルス感染拡大を理由に延期されている。

Translation

(CNN) The membership of 4 pro-democracy members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council were revoked on the 11th. The Hong Kong government announced it following a decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

In the Standing Committee on that day, a decision was made that if a member of the legislative council supported Hong Kong's independence or did not recognize China's sovereignty over Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government could revoke its qualification without any legal proceedings.

According to the decision, lawmakers who demanded foreign powers to intervene in Hong Kong's internal affairs, threatened national security, or did not comply with the "Hong Kong Basic Law" , which was equivalent to the Constitution, would be disqualified immediately.

Prior to the decision of the Standing Committee, 19 pro-democracy members of the Legislative Council announced on the 9th that they would all resign if some members were disqualified.

Twelve pro-democracy lawmakers, including four who were disqualified now, were disqualified in July this year for running for Legislative Council elections because they did not comply with the Hong Kong Basic Law. The election was scheduled to take place in September, but was postponed due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection.

              So, China is tightening its control over the membership of Hong Kong’s legislature. From now on, only patriotic candidates can run for the public office. It is a way for China to ensure that only one voice would be heard in the Hong Kong’s legislature.