HK court rejects appeal of 2 disqualified legislators

The Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong rejected the appeal on Friday of two separatist ex-lawmakers who sought to reinstate their Legislative Council seats after being disqualified.

There are no further appeals for Sixtus Leung Chung-hang and Yau Waiching, who were disqualified by the Court of First Instance in November.

An earlier appeal was rejected in January.

The two were ordered to pay court costs of HK$12 million and give back salaries and expense allowance money - a total of about HK$1.9 million ($243,000).

The case was heard by CFA Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Taoli and two other permanent judges of the court, Roberto Ribeiro and Joseph Paul Fok.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said when legal procedures are complete, arrangements will be made for a by-election to fill the vacant seats in the legislative body.

Leung and Yau were disqualified for violating the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and a local ordinance concerning the oath-taking process when assuming office.

During the swearing-in ceremony of the sixth-term Leg-Co in October, Leung and Yau altered their oaths, using derogatory language that insulted the nation and displaying separatist banners.

In a November interpretation of the Basic Law, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress said the oath must be recited as written and in a sincere manner.

Leung and Yau also face charges of unlawful assembly and attempted forced entry into a LegCo meeting.

In addition to Leung and Yau, four other former Hong Kong lawmakers - Leung Kwok-hung, Edward Yiu Chung-yim, Lau Siu-lai and Nathan Law Kwun-chung - were disqualified for not taking the oath properly in July. They must appeal by Sept 11.

Contact the writers at carrieqiu@chinadailyhk.com and willa@chinadailyhk.com

(China Daily 08/26/2017 page3)