The most awaited court hearing in Hong Kong has been set on Thursday to deliberate on the government's petition for two newly elected lawmakers to vacate their posts for altering the pledge of loyalty they took when they assumed their positions.
The Hong Kong government under the People's Republic of China has petitioned the city courts to rule if the lawmakers can still retake their oaths. It also wants the two lawmakers, who advocate independence for the former British territory, to also vacate their seats.
The separatist Hong Kong lawmakers, Yau Wai-ching and Sixtus Leung also displayed a banner with the "Hong Kong is not China" label during their oath-taking. This must have infuriated the Chinese government, resulting in this current action to remove them from the legislature.
Fears of backlash against the two separatist Hong Kong lawmakers are brewing since the news has been broadcasted in China state-controlled media and authorities in Beijing may interpret the city laws of Hong Kong to favor heir petition.
Alarm bells are ringing in the hallways of political social legal and academic institutions of the city. Hong Kong is a former British protectorate and has a proud tradition of legal system independence which China has promised to respect until 2047 when they took over the territory from British control in 1997.
However, there is a provision inserted in the Hong Kong Constitution known as the Basic Law that allows China, through the National People's Congress to pronounce interpretations of the laws of the city. This provision has been rarely invoked but in the case of the petition to oust the two separatist Hong Kong lawmakers, the intervention process has been started.
The National People's Congress committee is expected to meet next week to deliberate on the matter. The entire city is closely watching the developments of the case involving the two separatists Hong Kong lawmakers because its legal independence is at stake.
