British foreign secretary himself pledged allegiance to the monarch yet criticises Hong Kong for throwing out two miscreant lawmakers
Why is Boris Johnson worried about the Legislative Council oath saga from last year? Writing in a British government report on Hong Kong, the foreign secretary has expressed concern about the Legco row that saw localist lawmakers-elect Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching being disqualified from taking their seats. As a Tory, Johnson should have understood perfectly well why they were kicked out of Legco – for refusing to swear according to the legal oath of office, for declaring Hong Kong’s independence, and for insulting the Chinese nation. They went on to disrupt Legco meetings for three weeks. British members of parliament are required to swear or affirm allegiance to the monarch and her heirs and successors. Otherwise, they can’t take their seats or use any parliamentary facilities. At least Legco members-elect are not required to declare loyalty to the president of China, the central government or even the Chinese nation; they only need to bear allegiance to the Basic Law – the city’s mini-constitution – and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
