US condemns ousting of pro-democracy lawmakers from Hong Kong legislature

US has strongly condemned Beijing's move to disqualify four pro-democracy legislators from Hong Kong Legislative Council. This leaves doubt that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has flagrantly violated its international commitments under Si-British Joint Declaration and its promises to people of Hong Kong, including those under basic law, said US National Security visor Robert C O'Brien on Wednesday.

"'One Country, Two Systems' is w merely a fig leaf covering for CCP's expanding one party dictatorship in Hong Kong," he said.

Hong Kong legislature on Wednesday disqualified four pro-democracy legislators -- Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung. Following move, remaining 15 pro-democracy lawmakers also anunced that y would resign en masse.

disqualification of lawmakers came after National People's Congress Standing Committee passed a resolution stating that those who support Hong Kong's independence or refuse to ackwledge China's sovereignty over city, as well as commit acts that threaten national security or ask external forces to interfere in city's affairs, should be disqualified. Beijing has in recent months moved to clamp down on opposition voices in Hong Kong with imposition of a national security law, after months of anti-government protests last year rocked city.

" United States will continue to utilise all powers granted under Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, Hong Kong Automy Act, and Executive Order on Hong Kong rmalization to identify and sanction those responsible for extinguishing Hong Kong's freedom,” O’Brien said.

A mass resignation by pro-democracy camp would leave Hong Kong's legislature with only pro-Beijing lawmakers. pro-Beijing camp alrey makes up a majority of city's legislature, and would allow lawmakers to pass bills favoured by China upposed. In a separate joint statement, Senators Marco Rubio and Jeff Merkley said democracy in Hong Kong is gasping for air.

“China’s unelected and unaccountable National People’s Congress Standing Committee took ar grave step toward stripping people of Hong Kong of ir sacred rights and freedoms, this time by ousting Alvin Yeung, Kwok Ka-ki, Dennis Kwok, and Kenneth Leung from city’s Legislative Council,” statement said.

“se lawmakers were duly elected by ir constituents, but forced out of ir positions by a new directive from Beijing that disqualifies any vocate or supporter of Hong Kong’s automy which Beijing promised to protect from holding elected office,” it said.

It is critical that US and all allies of freedom come toger to recognise and condemn undeniable and far reaching ramifications of Beijing's authoritarian powergrab, which has wiped out what little remained of Hong Kong's democratic political system and violates China's treaty obligations, Rubio and Merkley said.

“We stand in solidarity with unseated public servants, ir 15 colleagues who have resigned in protest of today’s crackdown, and all Hong Kongers who have stood up time and time again in face of a brutal regime for sake of ir city and values y hold dear. You are heard, seen, and supported around world — and re will be consequences for Beijing’s actions,” y said.

Rubio and Merkley are members of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and serve as co-chair and commissioner, respectively, of bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). disqualification of pro-democracy members of Legislative Council and subsequent resignation of rest of pro-democracy bloc leaves Hong Kong with a rubber-stamp body willing to enact Beijing’s preferred policies, Freedom House said.

Freedom House is a US government-funded n-profit and n-governmental organisation that conducts research and vocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights. “Today’s anuncement of disqualification of prodemocracy members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council is yet ar nail in coffin of democracy and human rights in Hong Kong,” said Michael J Abramowitz, president of Freedom House.

“se actions are, unfortunately, in keeping with Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to tighten control at home and expand repression abro. US has alrey imposed sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials for violation of basic human rights. US government should review se latest developments to determine if ditional sanctions are warranted, and or countries that have t yet imposed sanctions should do so," he said. 

(Im Credits: AP)