NPC interpretation a blow to HK extremists : Global Times
The National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee issued an interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Monday, based on which, newly elected members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) who advocated “Hong Kong independence” and disgraced the country and people shall lose their eligibility to become lawmakers. There is no question that Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching will be expelled from the LegCo, writes an editorial piece of Global Times. .
Hong Kong public officers in future must take the oath strictly in accordance with the law. Anyone who desecrates the swearing-in ceremony will be disqualified and they shall assume legal responsibility should a false oath be sworn or the oath be violated.
The NPC interpretation has the same legal effect as the Basic Law and should be implemented without any reservation. The Hong Kong public and the whole of Chinese society will endorse it, and support the central government to crack down in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law on unbridled provocations by pro-independence forces.
A handful of radicals incited a protest on Sunday afternoon. The Hong Kong police said about 8,000 turned out and the opposition forces put the protest numbers at 11,000, while after Leung and Yau uttered a profanity at the swearing-in ceremony at the LegCo last month, more than 1 million people signed an online petition demanding the immediate disqualification of the two as lawmakers.
Their clumsy performance at the oath-taking ceremony has hit the bottom line of the Basic Law and the Constitution. If their pro-independence acts are appeased, Hong Kong will be led to a dead end, with its stability and prosperity ruined.
A chaotic Hong Kong is by no means what the general public of the city hopes to see, nor is it the desire of Chinese society. The reality that a few Hong Kong public officers are bold in uttering unconstitutional remarks reflects that the foundation of the rule of law in the region is being eroded by some radical forces. As small as their number is, they are creating waves to mislead the public. At this critical juncture, it’s of vital importance that the central government takes resolute action to make order out of confusion.
It’s noticeable that extreme forces are not welcomed by the majority of Hongkongers. China’s rise and the improving ties between China and the West has restrained the international anti-China forces from meddling into Hong Kong affairs. The failure of Hong Kong political extremists is expected.
The NPC interpretation doesn’t set up any additional principles for Hong Kong. It has only re-emphasized the bottom line of the Constitution and the Basic Law and cleared up some ambiguities. We believe the central government will take a more clear-cut and firm attitude on issues concerning the bottom line in future. This will help ensure the smooth implementation of “one country, two systems.” It’s time for Hong Kong’s extreme opposition to renew their understanding and reassess the situation. Confronting the Basic Law and the Constitution is doomed to fail.