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Hong Kong's pro-democracy lawmakers distort parliamentary oath in snub to China Hong Kong's pro-democracy politicians distort parliamentary oath in snub to China
(35 minutes later)
A new generation of pro-democracy politicians thumbed its nose at China’s authoritarian leaders on Wednesday, with a succession of lawmakers openly defying Beijing during an action-packed swearing-in ceremony for Hong Kong’s parliament.A new generation of pro-democracy politicians thumbed its nose at China’s authoritarian leaders on Wednesday, with a succession of lawmakers openly defying Beijing during an action-packed swearing-in ceremony for Hong Kong’s parliament.
Nathan Law, a student protest leader who was among six young pro-democracy faces elected to the former colony’s 70-member legislative council last month, quoted Mahatma Gandhi as he publicly rejected Beijing’s authority.Nathan Law, a student protest leader who was among six young pro-democracy faces elected to the former colony’s 70-member legislative council last month, quoted Mahatma Gandhi as he publicly rejected Beijing’s authority.
“You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body. But you will never imprison my mind,” said Law, the 23-year-old leader of a party called Demosisto.“You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body. But you will never imprison my mind,” said Law, the 23-year-old leader of a party called Demosisto.
He dismissed the swearing-in as a political tool being used by the regime to suppress Hong Kong’s people.He dismissed the swearing-in as a political tool being used by the regime to suppress Hong Kong’s people.
Minutes earlier Sixtus “Baggio” Leung, a 30-year-old pro-independence politician from another recently founded youth party called Youngspiration, made clear his dislike for the mainland by unfurling a blue banner that read: “Hong Kong is not China.”Minutes earlier Sixtus “Baggio” Leung, a 30-year-old pro-independence politician from another recently founded youth party called Youngspiration, made clear his dislike for the mainland by unfurling a blue banner that read: “Hong Kong is not China.”
Legco’s members were supposed to read a 77-word oath in order to officially begin their four-year terms in office.Legco’s members were supposed to read a 77-word oath in order to officially begin their four-year terms in office.
That oath contains a pledge to uphold the laws put in place after the former British colony returned to Chinese control in 1997, as well as to “serve the Hong Kong special administrative region conscientiously, dutifully, in full accordance with the law, honestly and with integrity”.That oath contains a pledge to uphold the laws put in place after the former British colony returned to Chinese control in 1997, as well as to “serve the Hong Kong special administrative region conscientiously, dutifully, in full accordance with the law, honestly and with integrity”.
Hong Kong's Legislative Council Oathhttps://t.co/jj0dE13l5h pic.twitter.com/Y5HX3CSMmSHong Kong's Legislative Council Oathhttps://t.co/jj0dE13l5h pic.twitter.com/Y5HX3CSMmS
But Leung refused to stick to the script, telling the chamber his loyalties lay with a place he referred to as “the People’s Republic of Shina”. Shina is an archaic and derogatory way of referring to China in Japanese.But Leung refused to stick to the script, telling the chamber his loyalties lay with a place he referred to as “the People’s Republic of Shina”. Shina is an archaic and derogatory way of referring to China in Japanese.
As he read the altered oath, Leung kept the fingers of his right hand firmly crossed.As he read the altered oath, Leung kept the fingers of his right hand firmly crossed.
Yau Wai-ching, another newly elected lawmaker who has said she favours independence from China, also refused to declare her loyalty to Beijing.Yau Wai-ching, another newly elected lawmaker who has said she favours independence from China, also refused to declare her loyalty to Beijing.
“I, Yau Wai-ching, do solemnly swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Hong Kong nation and will to the best protect and defend the values of Hong Kong,” said the 25-year-old, who is also a member of Youngspiration.“I, Yau Wai-ching, do solemnly swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Hong Kong nation and will to the best protect and defend the values of Hong Kong,” said the 25-year-old, who is also a member of Youngspiration.
Told she must repeat the oath correctly in order for it to be valid, Yau announced her allegiance to “the Hong Kong special administrative region of the People’s Refucking of Shina”.Told she must repeat the oath correctly in order for it to be valid, Yau announced her allegiance to “the Hong Kong special administrative region of the People’s Refucking of Shina”.
Eddie Chu, another member of the new generation of pro-democracy lawmakers, read his oath in full but at the end added: “Democracy and self determination. Autocracy will die!”Eddie Chu, another member of the new generation of pro-democracy lawmakers, read his oath in full but at the end added: “Democracy and self determination. Autocracy will die!”
A fifth pro-democracy politician, Lau Siu-lai, registered her protest by reading the oath in slow motion.A fifth pro-democracy politician, Lau Siu-lai, registered her protest by reading the oath in slow motion.
The protests underlined the new challenges facing China’s Communist party leaders as they seek to assert their control over Hong Kong’s vibrant political scene, which stands in stark contrast to the mainland’s rigid one-party system.The protests underlined the new challenges facing China’s Communist party leaders as they seek to assert their control over Hong Kong’s vibrant political scene, which stands in stark contrast to the mainland’s rigid one-party system.
Experts anticipate political fireworks as a less compromising and more vocal generation of activists begins to replace Hong Kong’s traditional pro-democracy camp.Experts anticipate political fireworks as a less compromising and more vocal generation of activists begins to replace Hong Kong’s traditional pro-democracy camp.
Not everyone chose to snub Beijing during the opening session of Legco, which has a 40-strong pro-China bloc.Not everyone chose to snub Beijing during the opening session of Legco, which has a 40-strong pro-China bloc.
In a sign of her dedication to China, Ann Chiang opted to read her oath in Mandarin, the language of the mainland, rather than that of Hong Kong, Cantonese.In a sign of her dedication to China, Ann Chiang opted to read her oath in Mandarin, the language of the mainland, rather than that of Hong Kong, Cantonese.
Chiang is a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), the former colony’s biggest pro-Beijing party.Chiang is a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), the former colony’s biggest pro-Beijing party.
In a recent interview the party’s vice-chairman, Holden Chow, claimed independence from China would be a disaster for his city and defended closer ties with Beijing.In a recent interview the party’s vice-chairman, Holden Chow, claimed independence from China would be a disaster for his city and defended closer ties with Beijing.
“I see a lot of good with having the support and the back-up from the mainland, from the central government, and I am proud of the fact that we are Chinese,” he said.“I see a lot of good with having the support and the back-up from the mainland, from the central government, and I am proud of the fact that we are Chinese,” he said.