In an unprecedented move, China on Monday passed a new controversial law to bar elected rebel lawmakers from taking office in Hong Kong in a bid to crush growing pro-independence movement in the former British colony.
The ruling passed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s rubber stamp parliament, said elected members to legislative Council (legCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) must swear allegiance to Hong Kong as part of China and those who changed their oath will be disqualified.
“When assuming office, the chief executive, principal officials, members of the executive council and of the legislative council, judges of courts at all levels and other members of the judiciary in the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region must, in accordance with law, swear to uphold the Basic law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
And swear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China,” NPC said issuing official interpretation basic law of article 104 of the Hong Kong’s Basic law.