Hong Kong officials disqualify dozens of opposition councillors

This came after Hong Kong s home affairs chief removed another 16 opposition district councillors on Thursday, bringing the total number of local politicians to more than 50. Liz Truss called the move deeply concerning in a statement on Thursday. She urged the Hong Kong SAR Government to allow the public a genuine choice of representative Ms Truss said: It is deeply concerning that 55 District Councillors have been disqualified and over 250 pressured to resign for political reasons the first time that such action has been taken against democratically elected District Councillors in the Hong Kong SAR. This comes as trade unions, interest groups and NGOs have been forced to disband. The Hong Kong SAR Government must uphold freedom of speech and allow the public a genuine choice of political representatives. In a statement on Friday, a spokesperson said: The decision is legitimate, lawful and beyond reproach. Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong and its affairs are purely China's internal affairs. No foreign country has the right to make irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong internal affairs including China affairs. As part of Beijing s controversial national security law, imposed in June last year, all public officers not just top officials, legislators and judges must pledge allegiance to the city. READ MORE: Hong Kong hell as Xi Jinping only allows selected citizens to vote.

This is part of an attempt to ensure that all public officers were sufficiently patriotic. According to the South China Morning PostChina Morning Post, roughly 260 opposition councillors stepped down from their positions earlier this year following rumours that they would have to pay back their salaries should they be ousted over their oaths. Fifty five councillors were removed after authorities deemed their oaths invalid. The Chinese embassy in London called her remarks irresponsible criticising her for interfering in China s internal affairs. Should Sunak issue multi-billion pound fund? The Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin LIVE: Brexit chief to face grilling TODAY LIVE Prince Harry and Meghan may be set on UK Christmas INSIGHT Speaking also about the United States, who have previously condemned the disqualifications, Brexit chief said on Friday: Neither the US nor the UK has ever really cared about democracy and freedom in Hong Kong. During a century and a half of British colonial rule in Hong Kong, all 28 governors were appointed by the UK.