By Tenzin Tseten
Dharamshala, Nov. 16 : The Hong Kong High Court on Tuesday gave its judgment on the Oath dissention case in favor of disqualifications of the pro independence lawmakers from their official seats.
The Court ruling comes a week after Beijing’s controversial interpretation and intervention in the Hong Kong legal system which led to the lawmakers-elect being barred from their post.
Justice Thomas Au, in his decision, stated Yau Wai Ching and Sixtus Leung were ineligible to hold office due to infringement of oaths taken during their swear-in at the legislation Council (LegCo). The ruling judge said that he would have made the same decision even without Beijing’s interpretation given that both the young legislatives-elect had clearly violated Hong Kong’s Law.
The manner of oaths taken by the two legislatives-elect showed, “objectively and clearly that they did not truthfully and faithfully intend to” uphold and swear allegiance to the Hong Kong Basic law, thus violating specifications in article 104 of the Basic Law, said Judge Au in his verdict.
The effective ruling of the case rejects both pro independence lawmakers from taking their oath again, declaring their seats vacant in the city’s LegCo.
At the press conference after the court’s dictum, Leung said, “The judgment simply reflects that the elections in Hong Kong are meaningless and their results of which can be easily overturned by the Govt. Our duty is to guard the civilization as well as established systems in Hong Kong. We have no hesitation in deciding that we will go forward and appeal to the court.”
