Call For Legco Ban On Law Opponents Sparks Fury

Pro-democracy lawmakers said on Wednesday that a call for all those who oppose the future national security legislation to be barred from running in September's Legco elections is an attempt by Beijing to wipe out the entire opposition camp in Hong Kong.

NPC Standing Committee member Tam Yiu-chung had told the Bauhinia Magazine that "regarding those who want to take part in building Hong Kong, whether it's lawmakers or candidates, they should not oppose national security legislation".

"Those who do object will be in violation of the Basic Law, and they should be disqualified," he was quoted as saying.

Democratic Party legislator Lam Cheuk-ting expressed outrage over Tam's remark, accusing him of trying to intimidate serving lawmakers and future election candidates, and seeking to have the whole pro-democracy camp disqualified from the next Legco polls.

Lam also accused Tam of breaking the law with his disqualification call.

The lawmaker cited Article 73 of the Basic Law which says the power to enact laws lies with Legco, and section 19 of the Powers and Privileges Ordinance which states it is an offence punishable by a custodial sentence to "endeavour to compel any member by force or menace to declare himself in favour of or against any motion or matter pending before the council or a committee".

"Obviously, Mr Tam tried to threaten Hong Kong legislative councillors to support the national security bill," Lam said.

"Such remarks brazenly violated the Basic Law and the Powers and Privileges Ordinance. I strongly urge the HKSAR government to clarify whether it is the stance of the Hong Kong government and to pursue the criminality of Mr Tam's remarks."

Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung, meanwhile, accused Beijing of trying to rule Hong Kong through fear, by stripping people of their most basic freedoms and rights.

"Tam, or his masters behind him, do not want to see a harmonious Hong Kong but to further rule Hong Kong by fear," Yeung said.

"Obviously those people who make such comments are irresponsible and if they are genuine about it, they just wish to wipe out the whole opposition."