Hong Kong's pro-democracy legislators said on Wednesday that they were resigning en-masse after Hong Kong government's move to expel four legislators in the exercise of the new powers given to it by China. These 15 lawmakers made this announcement in a press conference just hours after four legislators were expelled. China has given Hong Kong powers to disqualify politicians that are deemed to be a threat to national security. The resolution was passed by China on Thursday.

The resignations are the latest blow to the city's beleaguered pro-democracy movement, which has been under sustained attack since China imposed a sweeping national security law, including arrests for social media posts and activists fleeing overseas.

"We, from the pro-democracy camp, will stand with our colleagues. We will resign en masse," Wu Chi-wai, convener of the 15 remaining pro-democracy legislators, told a press conference.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Hong Kong government ousted four pro-democracy members minutes after one of China's top lawmaking committees ruled that authorities in the semi-autonomous city could remove any legislator deemed a threat to national security without going through the courts.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-ousts-four-pro-democracy-lawmakers-for-endangering-security-342326">Hong Kong ousts four pro-democracy lawmakers for 'endangering security'</a> 
 
Hong Kong's leader is chosen by pro-Beijing committees, but half of its 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 mass resignation will leave the legislature composed almost entirely of those toeing Beijing's line.

The inability of Hong Kongers to elect their leaders and all of their lawmakers has been at the heart of swelling opposition to Beijing's rule that sparked months of huge and often violent protests last year.

China passed the security law in June to quell the protests, describing it as a "sword" hanging over the head of its critics.

(With AFP inputs)

Hong Kong's pro-democracy legislators said on Wednesday that they were resigning en-masse after Hong Kong government's move to expel four legislators in the exercise of the new powers given to it by China.

Hong Kong's pro-democracy legislators said on Wednesday that they were resigning en-masse after Hong Kong government's move to expel four legislators in the exercise of the new powers given to it by China. These 15 lawmakers made this announcement in a press conference just hours after four legislators were expelled. China has given Hong Kong powers to disqualify politicians that are deemed to be a threat to national security. The resolution was passed by China on Thursday. The resignations are the latest blow to the city's beleaguered pro-democracy movement, which has been under sustained attack since China imposed a sweeping national security law, including arrests for social media posts and activists fleeing overseas. "We, from the pro-democracy camp, will stand with our colleagues. We will resign en masse," Wu Chi-wai, convener of the 15 remaining pro-democracy legislators, told a press conference. Earlier on Wednesday, the Hong Kong government ousted four pro-democracy members minutes after one of China's top lawmaking committees ruled that authorities in the semi-autonomous city could remove any legislator deemed a threat to national security without going through the courts. Also Read | Hong Kong ousts four pro-democracy lawmakers for 'endangering security' Hong Kong's leader is chosen by pro-Beijing committees, but half of its 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 mass resignation will leave the legislature composed almost entirely of those toeing Beijing's line. The inability of Hong Kongers to elect their leaders and all of their lawmakers has been at the heart of swelling opposition to Beijing's rule that sparked months of huge and often violent protests last year. China passed the security law in June to quell the protests, describing it as a "sword" hanging over the head of its critics. (With AFP inputs)

Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers resign en masse to protest expulsion of four colleagues

Hong Kong on Wednesday stripped four pro-democracy lawmakers of their seats, immediately after China gave the city the power to disqualify politicians deemed a threat to national security.

The ousting comes after 19 pro-democracy lawmakers in the semi-autonomous city's legislature threatened Monday to resign "en masse" if their colleagues were disqualified.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-pro-democracy-lawmakers-threaten-mass-resignation-against-beijing-341908">Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers threaten mass resignation against Beijing</a>

The expulsion of the four from Hong Kong's Legislative Council, the former British colony's mini-parliament, deals a further blow to pro-democracy politicians in the region.

The 19 democratic members of the 70-seat city legislature on Monday threatened to resign en masse if any of them was disqualified, saying that would reflect their unity and show how far Beijing was willing to go to crush opposition.

While the assembly is controlled by the pro-Beijing camp, the opposition's resignation would turn it into a rubber stamp.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-announces-sanctions-on-four-chinese-nationals-over-hong-kong-342055">US announces sanctions on four Chinese nationals over Hong Kong</a>

The opposition members have tried to make a stand against what many people in the former British colony see as Beijing's tightening grip over the financial hub, despite a promise of autonomy.

China denies encroaching on Hong Kong's freedoms but authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have moved swiftly to stifle dissent after anti-government protests flared in June last year and plunged the city into crisis.

The city government said in a statement the four legislators - Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung - were expelled from the assembly for endangering national security. It did not elaborate.

They were among 12 legislators who were earlier disqualified from standing in a legislative election, now postponed, for various reasons including collusion with foreign forces and opposition to the new national security law.

The disqualifications are likely to add to concern in the West about Hong Kong's autonomy, promised under a "one country, two systems" formula when Britain handed it to China in 1997, as Joe Biden prepares to take over from Donald Trump as U.S. president, promising to promote democracy around the world.

The decision by the Chinese parliament's top decision-making body comes amid frustration in pro-Beijing circles in Hong Kong over what they see as opposition "delay tactics" to obstruct legislation.

Filibustering has long been common in Hong Kong where only half of the 70 seats in the legislature are elected and the other half stacked with pro-Beijing figures.

Hong Kong on Wednesday stripped four pro-democracy lawmakers of their seats, immediately after China gave the city the power to disqualify politicians deemed a threat to national security.

Hong Kong on Wednesday stripped four pro-democracy lawmakers of their seats, immediately after China gave the city the power to disqualify politicians deemed a threat to national security. The ousting comes after 19 pro-democracy lawmakers in the semi-autonomous city's legislature threatened Monday to resign "en masse" if their colleagues were disqualified. Also read: Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers threaten mass resignation against Beijing The expulsion of the four from Hong Kong's Legislative Council, the former British colony's mini-parliament, deals a further blow to pro-democracy politicians in the region. The 19 democratic members of the 70-seat city legislature on Monday threatened to resign en masse if any of them was disqualified, saying that would reflect their unity and show how far Beijing was willing to go to crush opposition. While the assembly is controlled by the pro-Beijing camp, the opposition's resignation would turn it into a rubber stamp. Also read: US announces sanctions on four Chinese nationals over Hong Kong The opposition members have tried to make a stand against what many people in the former British colony see as Beijing's tightening grip over the financial hub, despite a promise of autonomy. China denies encroaching on Hong Kong's freedoms but authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have moved swiftly to stifle dissent after anti-government protests flared in June last year and plunged the city into crisis. The city government said in a statement the four legislators - Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung - were expelled from the assembly for endangering national security. It did not elaborate. They were among 12 legislators who were earlier disqualified from standing in a legislative election, now postponed, for various reasons including collusion with foreign forces and opposition to the new national security law. The disqualifications are likely to add to concern in the West about Hong Kong's autonomy, promised under a "one country, two systems" formula when Britain handed it to China in 1997, as Joe Biden prepares to take over from Donald Trump as U.S. president, promising to promote democracy around the world. The decision by the Chinese parliament's top decision-making body comes amid frustration in pro-Beijing circles in Hong Kong over what they see as opposition "delay tactics" to obstruct legislation. Filibustering has long been common in Hong Kong where only half of the 70 seats in the legislature are elected and the other half stacked with pro-Beijing figures.

Hong Kong ousts four pro-democracy lawmakers for 'endangering security'

A pro-democracy Hong Kong legislator called on the top U.N. human rights body on Monday to investigate what she said were “brutal crackdowns” and “police brutality” against demonstrators in the former British colony.

Hong Kong Lawmaker Appeal To The UN