The ousting of four pro-democracy lawmakers from Hong Kong's legislature was "the right medicine" for the city, China said, telling foreign governments the issue was none of their business.

Fifteen politicians vowed to quit in anger after their colleagues were removed on national security grounds by the Beijing-appointed chief executive, boosting fears that the room for dissent in Hong Kong is shrinking.

Millions of Hong Kongers took to the streets last year in months of disruptive protests over ebbing freedoms. Demonstrations were stamped out by the pandemic and a swingeing new law that made certain opinions illegal overnight.

The expulsions this week were "the right medicine that will start a new chapter in ensuring smooth operation" of Hong Kong's legislature, said China's foreign ministry in Hong Kong in a statement dated Thursday.

"The decision is intended to guarantee normal operation of governing bodies... and better ensure Hong Kong is governed by Hong Kong people with a high degree of autonomy," it said.

Britain -- which handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 -- summoned China's ambassador in London on Thursday, accusing Beijing of breaking international treaty obligations that guaranteed the financial hub special status and a high degree of autonomy.

London has increasingly locked horns with China since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong this year.

The European Union urged the "immediate reinstatement" of the lawmakers, and Canada said their ousting had the effect of "eroding human rights in Hong Kong".

China pushed back at the criticism, telling a "handful of foreign politicians to grasp the trend of the times, keep their hands off China's internal affairs, stop meddling with Hong Kong affairs in any form, and avoid going further down the wrong path."

London has already angered Beijing by offering Hong Kongers holding British National Overseas passports a route to UK citizenship by relaxing entry and residency requirements.

Hong Kong's leader is chosen by pro-Beijing committees, but half of the legislature's 70 seats are directly elected, offering the city's 7.5 million residents a rare chance to have their voices heard at the ballot box.

The expulsions and resignations will leave just two legislators outside the pro-Beijing camp, both of them unaligned with either bloc.

Beijing's crackdown on democracy and dissent in Hong Kong
Hong Kong (AFP) Nov 12, 2020 - China has moved to crush Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement after huge and violent protests rocked the finance hub last year, eviscerating along the way the flickering freedoms it promised Hong Kong could keep after the end of British colonial rule in 1997.

Here are the key developments in Beijing's crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city.

- 'Enforcement mechanisms' -

On May 22 China's top legislative body, the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), unveils plans to strengthen "enforcement mechanisms" in Hong Kong.

A draft proposal for the law says it will "guard against, stop and punish any separatism, subversion of the national regime, terrorist group activities and such behaviours that seriously harm national security".

But the precise content of the legislation is kept hidden from Hong Kong's 7.5 million residents.

An attempt by the Hong Kong government to introduce a similar law in 2003 sparked huge protests and was eventually shelved.

- Law passed -

China passes the security law on June 30, skipping Hong Kong's fractious legislature, with the precise wording kept secret until it came into effect.

The legislation is unanimously approved by Beijing's rubber-stamp parliament and signed by President Xi Jinping.

It allows Beijing jurisdiction over cases deemed to be serious breaches and introduces life sentences for the worst offences. It also allows China's security agents to operate openly in Hong Kong for the first time.

Four young pro-democracy leaders announce the same day they are resigning from their party, Demosisto, which is then disbanded. One of them, Nathan Law, flees the territory.

- Activists arrested -

On July 1, the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule, the first arrests are made under the new law.

In the same month, China opens a new office for its security agents to operate openly in the city for the first time, transforming a hotel into the force's headquarters.

More than 20 people have been arrested under the new security law, including four students who are accused of breaching it in their social media posts.

- Control over elections -

A month after the security law takes effect, 12 democracy activists, including four sitting lawmakers, are disqualified from running in an upcoming legislative election.

Election officials cite political views such as criticising the national security law, campaigning to win a legislation-blocking majority and refusing to recognise China's sovereignty.

One day after that, the government postpones the elections -- due to be held in September -- for a year, blaming the coronavirus.

- Free speech crackdown -

In July, a number of books written by democracy activists are withdrawn from Hong Kong libraries, and three days later the government orders schools to get rid of books that could be in breach of the security law.

Two pro-democracy veterans are sacked by universities after they served jail terms for taking part in protests.

In August, hundreds of police raid the newsroom of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and arrest its owner, media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

In November, a Radio Television Hong Kong journalist is charged with making a false statement while obtaining information on vehicle license plates for an investigation into a mob attack and Hong Kong police misconduct last year.

- Democrat exodus -

On Wednesday, Hong Kong authorities disqualified four pro-democracy lawmakers.

The move comes just minutes after China's top lawmaking committee ruled the city's government could remove any legislator deemed a threat to national security without going through the courts.

The remaining 15 pro-democracy lawmakers later say they will all quit in protest, reducing Hong Kong's once-feisty legislature to a gathering of Chinese loyalists.

International criticism of China is swift.

"Once again, (Chinese President) Xi Jinping's regime has demonstrated its total hostility to democratic accountability, and those who wish to stand up for it," said Chris Patten, the city's last colonial governor.

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

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