Another Dark Day in Hong Kong

Pan-democrat bloc says they will resign en masse tomorrow

 

Today marks the end of "one country, two systems" that paramount leader Deng Xiaoping had promised back in 1984. He said there would be no change for 50 years, which at the time seemed far off.

But only 23 years after 1997, Hong Kong's institutions are being destroyed to make the city into a Chinese one, and very quickly too.

Is this what Deng had in mind back in 1984?

The National People's Congress Standing Committee today endorsed a resolution (unanimously of course) to oust Hong Kong lawmakers immediately if they are deemed to have engaged in acts ranging from endangering national security to dishonouring their pledge of allegiance and refusing to support China's sovereignty over the city.

Then the Hong Kong government used this ruling to immediately disqualify four lawmakers: Civic Party's Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, Kwok Ka-ki, and Dennis Kwok, along with Kenneth Leung of the Professional Guild.

When that happened, the immediate thought was, now that the four had been ousted, would the pan-democrat bloc follow through with their threat yesterday to quit the Legislative Council?

Indeed they have.

Four ousted lawmakers walk out of Legco

On this tumultuous day that saw the announcement, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor made long-winded explanations on why these disqualifications had to happen, and that she did not initiate this, that she was only the messenger and so on; then the four lawmakers made statements in the Legco chamber and solemnly walked out, saying they were honoured to be forced out; and then the other 15 pan-democrats spoke one by one in another press conference encouraging Hongkongers to add oil and that the fight for democracy was not over.

They will resign en masse tomorrow. Beijing might even arrest them tomorrow.

For Hongkongers this means the opposition they had democratically voted four years ago in are now wiped out except for two independents. Beijing does not care to respect the Basic Law anymore -- instead it will rule the city how it wishes and expects Lam to execute these demands.

There is no legal recourse to fight Beijing on these changes. You are either deemed patriotic enough by Beijing or you can't serve Legco. This means bills the government wants to pass will be passed. Interestingly lawmakers in the pro-establishment camp say they will continue to hold the government accountable...

Lam claims she is only the messenger

Hongkongers are collectively wondering what happened to their city. Last year it was torn apart by clashes between protesters and the police, and now life appears to be going on normally but the city's institutions are being destroyed, the judiciary possibly next.

How much longer can people accept what is happening to their city? Everyday there is a new outrageous development they have no choice but to absorb and move on.

Last year's District Council elections may have been the last time people were able to have a voice that Beijing refuses to listen.