Hong Kong’s pan-democratic camp reaches a fork in the road

Beijing’s breakthrough offer of travel permits was followed by the Hong Kong government’s call for four more lawmakers to be barred. So is there a way forward after two apparently contradictory moves?

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Four lawmakers face legal action, including “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung (right) and Lau Siu-lai (second right). Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 9:59pm, 8 Dec 2016Updated: 1:40am, 9 Dec 2016

For close observers of the intricacies of the relationship between Beijing and pan-democrats in Hong Kong, last week witnessed the best of times and the worst of times.

Last Wednesday, Beijing and the Hong Kong government confirmed pan-democrats banned from entering the mainland would be granted travel documents. The move was hailed as a conciliatory gesture by the central government to engage pan-democrats at odds with Beijing for more than two decades.

But the warm political atmosphere lasted only two days. Last Friday, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying launched an all-out legal offensive against the pan-democratic camp, moving to have four more of its lawmakers disqualified over improper oath-taking.

Pro-independence activists Yau Wai-ching (right) and Baggio Leung have already been disqualified. Photo: Reuters

It would appear any positive dividends brought about by Beijing’s historic decision to lift the entry curbs on pan-democrats quickly disappeared in the wake of what was seen as a draconian step by the Hong Kong government to target opposition legislators who had steered clear of the red line of advocating independence. That the apparently contradictory moves took place in the space of just three days made the situation even more difficult to comprehend.

It remains unclear if the Hong Kong government acted at the behest of the central government’s order to launch a legal battle against the four lawmakers, or if Leung took the initiative.

A mainland official familiar with Hong Kong affairs said the Hong Kong government’s filing of a judicial review against the four was in line with Beijing’s stance of getting tough on matters regarding national dignity and sovereignty.

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