Only Patriots Will Govern Hong Kong, Says Beijing

Beijing officials on Wednesday said they "firmly support" the SAR government's move to announce the disqualification of pro-democracy legislators Kenneth Leung, Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok and Kwok Ka-ki.

"The political rule that Hong Kong must be governed by patriots shall be firmly guarded," the liaison office said.

The office also backed a resolution earlier in the day by the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) on various reasons for ousting Hong Kong lawmakers.

These reasons include seeking foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs, promoting independence, threatening national security, and refusing to acknowledge China's sovereignty over the territory.

The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) said the NPCSC's decision has "unchallengeable legal authority".

"The decision provides a solid legal basis for regulating and dealing with matters concerning the qualification of Legco members," the office said in a statement.

Earlier this year, the HKMAO issued statements denouncing Dennis Kwok over his handling of meetings to elect a chairman of Legco's House Committee.

When he was barred from running in September's Legco elections – which were eventually cancelled – a returning officer had grilled Dennis Kwok about his alleged calls for foreign sanctions on Hong Kong officials.

The other three disqualified legislators were also banned from the elections, on the grounds that they would not uphold the Basic Law. They stayed on in the legislature when Beijing extended the council's term by at least another 12 months.