This is the last article you can read this month
You can read more article this month
You can read more articles this month
Sorry your limit is up for this month
Reset on:
Please help support the Morning Star by subscribing here
HONG KONG entered a new era today, as 90 new lawmakers were sworn into office for the seventh term of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Chief executive Carrie Lam oversaw the ceremony, which opened with the singing of the Chinese national anthem and the flags of both China and Hong King displayed on the podium.
The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong congratulated the new lawmakers and said it underlined the “one country, two systems” principle.
“It’s also a portrayal of the implementation of the principle of only patriots governing Hong Kong in the legislature,” a statement said.
The lawmakers were the first to be elected under a new system under which only those who recognise Chinese sovereignty in Hong Kong were eligible candidates.
The measure was deemed necessary after Hong Kong police clashed with protesters pressing for independence from Beijing in 2019.
In 2016 the swearing-in ceremony was marred by a number of opposition lawmakers using the oath-taking ceremony as an opportunity for anti-China protest.
It has now become a legal pledge, to avoid such a repetition.
