Beijing has banned legislators who advocate Hong Kong independence from serving on the territory’s council, in an unprecedented move that exacerbates fears over the rule of law in the financial centre.
The decision on Monday by the National People’s Congress, China’s rubber-stamp parliament, came after a tense stand-off and occasional clashes in Hong Kong on Sunday night between police and hundreds of protesters.
Among the demonstrators were Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-Ching, the two Hong Kong legislators who sparked this latest crisis in Hong Kong’s relations with Beijing after they failed to take the standard oath of office and instead pledged allegiance to the “Hong Kong nation” last month.