Beijing has ‘zero tolerance’ for separatism, mainland official warns Hongkongers seeking role in China’s legislature

National People’s Congress vice-chairman Wang Chen sounded this warning ahead of the December 19 election to appoint 36 local deputies to the National People’s Congress

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(L to R) Wang Zhemin, head of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong ; Wang Chen, secretary-general and Vice-chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee; and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor at the local NPC plenary session on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 5:00pm, 22 Nov 2017Updated: 9:37pm, 22 Nov 2017

Hongkongers aspiring to represent the city on China’s legislature must swear to uphold the Chinese constitution and the “one country, two systems” principle, as Beijing would not tolerate any bid by Hong Kong to be independent, a senior mainland official said on Wednesday.

National People’s Congress (NPC) vice-chairman Wang Chen was speaking in Hong Kong to a 1,400-strong audience, made up of mostly pro-establishment politicians and businessmen, ahead of a poll that takes place every five years to choose 36 local deputies to serve in the NPC.

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Those at Wednesday’s meeting are among 1,989 people eligible to vote at the December 19 election.

Current NPC deputies from the city and pro-establishment figures seeking to get elected were seen collecting nomination forms at the meeting.

Among them were Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, formerly Hong Kong’s constitutional affairs minister, lawyers Ambrose Lam San-keung and Maggie Chan Man-ki, and former legislator Tam Yiu-chung.

Lawyer Maggie Chan Man-ki was among meeting attendees who collected nomination forms for the December 19 election, where 36 local deputies will be appointed to China’s legislature. Photo: Sam Tsang