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Hong Kong: Why is there chaos in parliament? Hong Kong: Why there is chaos in parliament
(35 minutes later)
Unprecedented scenes have been playing out recently in Hong Kong's Legislative Council, the territory's main lawmaking body.Unprecedented scenes have been playing out recently in Hong Kong's Legislative Council, the territory's main lawmaking body.
On Wednesday, dozens of lawmakers staged a walk-out ahead of a second attempt to swear in newly elected pro-independence lawmakers.On Wednesday, dozens of lawmakers staged a walk-out ahead of a second attempt to swear in newly elected pro-independence lawmakers.
On the surface, the row is over the oath lawmakers have to take.On the surface, the row is over the oath lawmakers have to take.
But it has brought to the fore the deep divisions between those who accept and those challenging Chinese control.But it has brought to the fore the deep divisions between those who accept and those challenging Chinese control.
What exactly is problem with the oath? What exactly is the problem with the oath?
Hong Kong has been governed under the "one country, two systems" principle since it was returned to China in 1997.Hong Kong has been governed under the "one country, two systems" principle since it was returned to China in 1997.
It means that Hong Kong enjoys certain freedoms not granted to mainland Chinese, but crucially its leader is picked from a group selected by a pro-Beijing committee.It means that Hong Kong enjoys certain freedoms not granted to mainland Chinese, but crucially its leader is picked from a group selected by a pro-Beijing committee.
But in September, two members of the new political party Youngspiration were elected to the LegCo.But in September, two members of the new political party Youngspiration were elected to the LegCo.
They identify themselves as "localists", a movement which objects to what followers see as a gradual encroachment of mainland China in Hong Kong politics and culture.They identify themselves as "localists", a movement which objects to what followers see as a gradual encroachment of mainland China in Hong Kong politics and culture.
These Youngspiration MPs are at the more extreme end of that, and want total independence for Hong Kong.These Youngspiration MPs are at the more extreme end of that, and want total independence for Hong Kong.
So they decided they could not swear the oath in its current form, which is this:So they decided they could not swear the oath in its current form, which is this:
"I swear that, being a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, I will uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and serve the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conscientiously, dutifully, in full accordance with the law, honestly and with integrity.""I swear that, being a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, I will uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and serve the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conscientiously, dutifully, in full accordance with the law, honestly and with integrity."
So what did they do instead?So what did they do instead?
Last Wednesday, when Sixtus Leung, 30, and Yau Wai-ching, 25 were being sworn in, they altered the oath to reflect that they do not accept Hong Kong as a territory of China. They swore while saying it and provocatively mispronounced China.Last Wednesday, when Sixtus Leung, 30, and Yau Wai-ching, 25 were being sworn in, they altered the oath to reflect that they do not accept Hong Kong as a territory of China. They swore while saying it and provocatively mispronounced China.
They pledged allegiance to the "Hong Kong nation" and held up a banner that said "Hong Kong is not China".They pledged allegiance to the "Hong Kong nation" and held up a banner that said "Hong Kong is not China".
Amid a furore in the LegCo chamber, their were oaths were deemed invalid by legislative officials, and the swearing-in was put back a week.Amid a furore in the LegCo chamber, their were oaths were deemed invalid by legislative officials, and the swearing-in was put back a week.
So far so chaotic. So then what?So far so chaotic. So then what?
The government launched an unprecedented legal attempt to delay Mr Leung and Ms Yau's swearing in until a judicial review.The government launched an unprecedented legal attempt to delay Mr Leung and Ms Yau's swearing in until a judicial review.
On Tuesday, the High Court rejected the request for a delay, paving the way for them to be sworn in on Wednesday. But it did agree to a judicial review.On Tuesday, the High Court rejected the request for a delay, paving the way for them to be sworn in on Wednesday. But it did agree to a judicial review.
However, on Wednesday dozens of lawmakers staged a walk-out before Mr Leung and Ms Yau were sworn in, demanding that the duo apologise for "insulting our motherland".However, on Wednesday dozens of lawmakers staged a walk-out before Mr Leung and Ms Yau were sworn in, demanding that the duo apologise for "insulting our motherland".
With them gone, there weren't enough lawmakers in the room for the oaths to take place.With them gone, there weren't enough lawmakers in the room for the oaths to take place.
It's unclear when the swearing in will now take place.It's unclear when the swearing in will now take place.
How did Hong Kong get to this point?How did Hong Kong get to this point?
In 2014, mass pro-democracy street protests erupted, with thousands taking the streets for weeks demanding fully democratic elections for Hong Kong's leader.In 2014, mass pro-democracy street protests erupted, with thousands taking the streets for weeks demanding fully democratic elections for Hong Kong's leader.
The Umbrella Movement, as it came to be known, was led by young people who wanted their voices heard.The Umbrella Movement, as it came to be known, was led by young people who wanted their voices heard.
After the mass demonstrations failed to win any concessions from Beijing, some of those protesters instead entered mainstream politics, to try to enact the change they wanted through constitutional means.After the mass demonstrations failed to win any concessions from Beijing, some of those protesters instead entered mainstream politics, to try to enact the change they wanted through constitutional means.
But some took a more hardline view, fearing that Beijing was tightening its grip and influence over Hong Kong and wanting to preserve Hong Kong's unique culture and freedoms.But some took a more hardline view, fearing that Beijing was tightening its grip and influence over Hong Kong and wanting to preserve Hong Kong's unique culture and freedoms.
In the last elections, a handful of those youth protestors, including both pro-democracy and pro-independence voices, won seats in the LegCo.In the last elections, a handful of those youth protestors, including both pro-democracy and pro-independence voices, won seats in the LegCo.