'Lawmakers Barred From Legco Race Also Should Quit'

Hong Kong's sole representative to the National People's Congress Standing Committee said on Wednesday that pro-democracy lawmakers who were disqualified from running in the now-postponed Legco elections should also quit from the extended council.

Tam Yiu-chung was referring to the Civic Party's Alvin Yeung, Kwok Ka-ki and Dennis Kwok, as well as the accountancy sector's Kenneth Leung.

They are among the 19 pro-democracy lawmakers who announced on Tuesday that they would stay for the extra year arranged by Beijing, after the September 6 polls were postponed to next year by the SAR government due to the pandemic situation.

Speaking before attending a National Day event at the Wan Chai exhibition centre, Tam said it's a contradiction that lawmakers who were disqualified from running in the Legco polls are continuing to serve as lawmakers.

The Legco's official term ends on Wednesday and three opposition lawmakers have said they will not continue as legislators from Thursday, leaving just 21 members on the pro-democracy side.

They now retain by a thin edge, enough numbers to hold off a two-thirds majority vote as the pro-establishment camp has 41 members.

Five members of the pro-democracy camp had lost their seat through disqualification due to improper oath taking. Gary Fan and Au Nok-hin from the opposition side and Yan Chan from the pro-government side were unseated after court rulings over their elections.