Crisis looms as HK legislators walk out to shun independence activists

HONG KONG — Dozens of pro-Beijing lawmakers walked out of the Hong Kong legislature yesterday to prevent the swearing-in of two pro-independence activists, setting the scene for a new constitutional crisis in the Chinese-controlled city.

Mr Sixtus Leung and Ms Yau Wai-ching of the Youngspiration party, who last week tweaked their pledges in an act of defiance against China, were among five lawmakers set to retake their oaths so they can assume office. They were part of a new wave of activist candidates elected last month amid a rising tide of anti-China sentiment in semi-autonomous Hong Kong.

However, pro-Beijing lawmakers walked out before their turn, forcing the meeting’s adjournment to next week because the 70-seat chamber lacked the 35-member quorum needed.

Senior pro-establishment lawmaker Regina Ip said she generally disapproved of walkouts, but legislators had no option after the pair refused to apologise for “insulting our motherland”. “This is a very exceptional case involving a fundamental principle which involves loyalty to your country and adherence to our oath of upholding the ... law,” she said.

“We haven’t had any sense of remorse from them, so we just have to do what I believe to be a very unfortunate choice, to walk out from the scene, to disallow the swearing-in ceremony to go on,’’ said pro-Beijing lawmaker Paul Tse.

Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen said it was “unfortunate” his colleagues chose to walk out and that he had no choice but to adjourn the meeting.

“I know that there are different views in society regarding the behaviour of the two (localists), and legislators have their right to express their views,” he said, adding that Hong Kong is far from a constitutional crisis. The topic of independence has long been taboo in the former British colony, now governed under the “one country, two systems” principle since its return to Communist Party-ruled China in 1997.

Street protests calling for full democracy for Hong Kong in 2014 presented Communist Party rulers in Beijing with one of their biggest political challenges in decades.

At the legislature’s opening session a week ago, the duo and two other pro-democracy lawmakers modified their oaths, which call for pledging allegiance to the “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China”.

Mr Leung, 30, and Ms Yau, 25, who took the English version of the oath, had vowed to defend the “Hong Kong nation” and mispronounced China as Shina, an archaic Japanese term for the country that is seen as derogatory. Mr Leung crossed his fingers while taking the oath while Ms Yau combined “republic” with a swear word.

They were getting a second chance yesterday after the top court rejected an unprecedented legal challenge by Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed top leader and justice chief, who had filed a last-minute injunction on Tuesday evening to stop them from being allowed a second chance.

A third lawmaker, sociology lecturer Lau Siu-lai, an independent, was also prevented from retaking her oath yesterday. But two others finished before the walkout, including a pro-Beijing representative who forgot one word the first time.

Hundreds of pro-Beijing protesters thronged the grounds of the legislature, some carrying placards of Mr Leung and Ms Yau dressed in Japanese army uniforms that denounced them as “traitors” and “dogs”.

Speaking to reporters outside the chamber, pro-Beijing lawmakers blasted Mr Leung and Ms Yau for insulting China and demanded they apologise, before arguing with pro-democracy activist lawmaker “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung. Mr Leung threw luncheon meat at them, a reference to their criticism when the pro-democracy camp used similar delaying tactics.

Mr Wong Kwok-hing, a pro-Beijing politician who was ousted during last month’s legislative council election, had claimed opposition lawmakers had wasted HK$2.55 million (S$455,900) in public funds a day when filibustering.

He said HK$2.55 million would buy 160,000 cans of luncheon meat, or 120,000 cans of dace fish with black beans. After he lost the election, some Hong Kongers marked the occasion by bringing along cans of luncheon meat. Ms Yau said the loyalists should apologise “because they are the ones who are betraying Hong Kongers”. AGENCIES