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posted by martyb on Monday November 07 2016, @03:55PM   Printer-friendly
from the ain't-gonna-have-none-of-that-anti-talk dept.

China has barred two pro-independence politicians from taking seats in Hong Kong's legislature:

China's parliament passed a ruling on Monday that effectively bars two Hong Kong pro-independence politicians from taking office, Beijing's most direct intervention in the territory's legal and political system since 1997 handover. The National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing ruled that lawmakers must swear allegiance to Hong Kong as part of China and that candidates would be disqualified if they changed the wording of their oath of office or if they failed to take it in a sincere and solemn manner.

The prospect of the ruling had sparked protests in the former British colony on Sunday. Foreign diplomats were watching closely, stressing the importance of the rule of the law to the city's international reputation. While the controversial decision effectively bars the two pro-independence Hong Kong politicians from being sworn in, a court in the Chinese-ruled city must still rule on the case, taking Beijing's decision into consideration.

Also at NYT and Washington Post.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 07 2016, @08:39PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 07 2016, @08:39PM (#423734)

    Write in Other: 'No Confidence' on your ballot.

    That is the only thing you can do this year to voice your protest. Sadly all other positions on my ballot this year don't HAVE an other field (and in some cases only have two same-party candidates for the positions!) Personally I think every ballot should include a bid of no confidence option for each position. Sure it might waste our taxpayer dollars to have a position vacant and have to re-run a new election outside of normal election periods, but it gives people an option for candidates who might not have been able to afford/place in a regular election which may in fact be better for the state or country as a whole. Certainly after this year's election more people might approve of it as an option.