Beijing interpretation of Article 104 needed for a city in jeopardy: chairman of Basic Law committee

Beijing needed to set clear and ­explicit rules on oath-taking ­because pro-independence advocacy represented a serious threat to both Hong Kong and the country’s national interest, the chairman of the Basic Law Committee said yesterday.

Among other things, the ruling requires public officials, including lawmakers, to make their pledge of allegiance “sincerely and ­solemnly” and “accurately and completely”.

After the interpretation of Article 104 of the city’s mini-constitution was approved by 155 members of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, Li Fei fielded media questions.

“Some people publicly called for the city’s independence, while others spread ideas such as ‘self-determination for the nation’, [these ideas] are pro-independence in their nature... and the advocates had publicly ­challenged the country’s constitution,” he said.

“Some people said the ­National People’s Congress should restrain itself from using all its power, but we say that power has to be used, this is our responsibility ... when Hong Kong’s fundamental interest is in jeopardy, and when the baselines of ‘one country, two systems’ are at stake, the NPCSC has to exercise its power.”