More than 70 Hong Kong opposition district councillors quit ahead of coming cull under new rule aimed at removing ‘unpatriotic’ office-holders

Posting protest-related slogans on office walls joins list of reasons for removal, government source says, noting national security law violations not required

At least 76 opposition councillors resign as news of coming move circulated, including a requirement they return their salaries

Reading Time:3 minutes

At least two-thirds of Hong Kong’s remaining opposition district councillors are expected to be disqualified. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 8:00pm, 8 Jul 2021Updated: 11:34pm, 8 Jul 2021

More than 70 opposition district councillors have resigned since Wednesday, with Hong Kong authorities deciding on a hardline approach that will unseat any who posted slogans connected to the 2019 anti-government protests on their office walls.

Sources said they believed that under the new rules, nearly 150 opposition district councillors – almost 60 per cent of those remaining – were expected to be disqualified this month.

The move, taken under a new law aimed at removing “unpatriotic” office-holders, will also require those disqualified to return about HK$1 million (US$29,000) in salary and other funds received since taking office.

News of the coming cull prompted at least 76 opposition councillors to resign since Wednesday night, pushing the number who have already quit to 123 of the 392 who swept to power in a 2019 electoral landslide.

As of Thursday evening, there were 269 opposition members left across the city’s 18 district councils.

“The criteria [for disqualification] are unrelated to whether these district councillors have violated the national security law,” a government source said. “We use a higher threshold, because the oath-taking legislation requires pledging loyalty to the Basic Law and Hong Kong government.”

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x