Zeman: NPCSC’s resolution the ‘right medicine’ for HK

Collective resignation of 15 opposition legislators shows ‘they’re irresponsible’

The National People’s Congress Standing Committee’s decision on the qualification of Hong Kong lawmakers is the “right medicine” for the city to put itself back on track and become stronger, said Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group.

“Legislative Council members are supposed to be working for Hong Kong people and doing a better job, and not colluding with foreign governments,” he said in an interview.

The central government has every right to decide who are eligible to serve the city as lawmakers and who aren’t, he said.

The business magnate’s remarks came after the nation’s top legislature last week passed a resolution stipulating that lawmakers of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region must be removed from their seats or barred from running for the Legislative Council if they advocate separatism, breach their oath of allegiance to serve the SAR, seek external intervention in Hong

Kong’s affairs, or commit other acts that endanger national security.

The SAR government subsequently announced that Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, Kwok Ka-ki, Dennis Kwok Wing-hang and Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong were disqualified as legislators. The four had been earlier barred by the city’s returning officers from running in the legislative elections originally scheduled for Sept 6 for having failed to honor their pledge of allegiance to the HKSAR.

Yeung traveled to the US last year to discuss the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act that paved the way for US sanctions against Hong Kong. Dennis Kwok and Kwok Ka-ki had written to US officials calling for a speedy passage of the bill that became law on Nov 27.

“In essence, any country, including the United States and the United Kingdom, that criticized the NPCSC’s decision would not look upon their senators or house representatives favorably either if they went to China to complain about their government or president,” Zeman said.

Instead of going to foreign countries begging for sanctions against Hong Kong, those lawmakers who have issues or suggestions to make should talk to Beijing if they want to get things done, he said.

The NPCSC move is akin to prescribing the “right medicine” for Hong Kong to allow the city to get stronger and better when the nation sees the city going off the track.

In Zeman’s view, the collective resignation of 15 opposition lawmakers following the ousting of the four showed they’re irresponsible.

These lawmakers were elected to serve in the Legislative Council to monitor the government’s decisions, but they had chosen to give up their duties.

Noting that legislators are elected to work for and improve the people’s livelihood and members of the public expect them to act responsibly, Zeman said some opposition lawmakers’ improper performance at LegCo meetings and their repeated filibustering tactics have affected the city’s progress as so many bills relating to the people’s livelihood have been stalled.

“These are supposed to be responsible people who’ve been elected to serve the public, not to fight with one another and hold up signs and be immature,” he said.

“Even children can behave better than some of the unruly lawmakers I’ve seen on television. It’s embarrassing because people around the world can see that as well.”

Zeman said he hopes other lawmakers will act responsibly and work together to pass the bills that will help make people’s lives better, especially amid an economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legislative Council members are supposed to be working for Hong Kong people and doing a better job, and not colluding with foreign governme nts.”

Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group