Booted out

All pan-democratic lawmakers will resign today after four of their colleagues were officially unseated after directives from Beijing's top policy body, with the camp saying Hong Kong's Legislative Council is being turned into a China legislature.

The SAR administration yesterday announced that four lawmakers - the Civic Party's Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, Kwok Ka-ki and the Professionals Guild's Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong - have been stripped of their seats in Legco with immediate effect.

This came after the National People's Congress Standing Committee laid out the principles of disqualification of legislators after its two-day meeting in Beijing, saying that was done at the request of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

In response, the 15 other pan-democratic lawmakers honored their threat to resign en masse and said they would submit their resignation letters in today's Legislative Council meeting.

For the first time in the legislature's history, there will not be an opposition party in this extended year.

Lam also said there will be no by-election for the four ousted lawmakers.

"The NPCSC is basically giving up on the Basic Law and the one country, two systems principle and turning Legco into a legislature into another NPC, camp convener and Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai said.

"Therefore we decided to leave this legislature that has lost its function.

"Today we will resign from our positions because our partners, our colleagues have been disqualified by the central government's ruthless move.''

During the news conference, the 15 lawmakers held hands and chanted: "Hong Kong add oil! Together we stand!'' The phrase "add oil'' is a direct translation of a Chinese expression of encouragement.

Lawmaker Claudia Mo Man-ching said: "This is an actual act by Beijing to sound the death knell of Hong Kong's democracy fight because they would think that, from now on, anyone they found to be politically incorrect or unpatriotic or are simply not likable to look at, they could just oust you using any means.''

Wu's party mate, Lam Cheuk-ting, said he had no regrets about being a politician, but he believed many Hongkongers would be saddened or discouraged.

"We have fought a beautiful battle. I hope Hongkongers can stay strong and stay true to our original intentions in our positions," he said, "and tyranny will fall one day."

The NPCSC decision states that lawmakers will be deemed unfit for Legco duties once they do not uphold the Basic Law nor pledge allegiance to the SAR.

Those actions include promoting or supporting claims on "Hong Kong independence," refusing to recognize China's sovereignty over Hong Kong, colluding with foreign or external forces to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and actions that endanger national security.

The committee also said the decision was applicable to the lawmakers disqualified from running for the now-postponed election that was supposed to be held in September this year. Instead it has been postponed to next September.

"This will ensure the full and faithful implementation of the one country, two systems principle and the Basic Law, safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests and maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong," the NPCSC said.

The chief executive said yesterday that whether the four should be allowed to stay on was a constitutional problem under special circumstances, therefore the SAR government cannot deal with it itself.

"It is contradicting and illogical to have the four disqualified lawmakers to still be sitting," she said. "I had the responsibility to consider whether local laws could deal with the problem [and] the conclusion was 'no.' Therefore I needed to ask the NPCSC to solve the problem."

Lam also said the NPCSC's deliberation was constitutional and lawful, while it did not pick on any particular lawmaker.

She also denied claims that the disqualification was due to the recent filibustering tactics deployed by the pro-democracy lawmakers.

"Using filibustering tactics to extend the time needed to vet bills due to their discontent towards a certain government policy should not be regarded as acts of secession or failing to pledge allegiance to the SAR as these are useful tactics, but it still depends on the extent," she said.

Lam said the administration will strengthen certain legislation including the oath law.

Pro-democracy lawmakers stayed true to their vow to quit. "The pro-democracy camp decided to experience the ups and downs with our disqualified colleagues, therefore we will resign en masse, while we will also submit our resignation letters to the Legco president," Wu said.

Cheng Chung-tai of localist party Civic Passion and medical sector Pierre Chan Pui-yin will remain in the minority among 41 other pro-establishment lawmakers.

Cheng told reporters that amid the current political environment, a mass resignation makes no difference and could not threaten the regime, claiming the pan-dems had missed an opportunity to do so.

"I will continue to serve Hong Kong citizens in the coming days, to try my best to make my voice heard in this 'limited' environment," he said.

Chan issued a statement saying he was disappointed to see four of the lawmakers being disqualified, saying he would stay behind amid the pandemic to fight the virus along with Hong Kong citizens and his fellow lawmakers.