US and EU Responded to the Mass Disqualification of District Councillors
#HKSAR government demanded all #DistrictCouncillors (DC) in Hong Kong to take an oath earlier. 55 DC lost their seats in total as 49 councillors in democratic parties were disqualified due to invalid vows. 6 directly lost their seats due to the absence of #oath. More than 200 DC had resigned earlier due to the oath request.
The US State Department issued a statement on Oct 21, keeping their concerns to the #HumanRights and the #Freedom in Hong Kong, including the continuous erosion of political participation, especially under the National Security Law (#NSL) which increases prosecution with political motivation.
The statement also said that the prosecution was directed to teachers, unions, lawyers, journalists, medical staff, student unions and citizens. The mass DC disqualification is simply to stop HKers to manage their homeland meaningfully.
US State Department again called Beijing and the Hong Kong authority to release people who are detained unfairly, and stop the suppression of peaceful civil organizations. They also pointed out that HKers and the energetic civil society are always the biggest resources in Hong Kong, as well as the foundation of being a successful international finance hub. The US will continue to support HKers, their rights and their freedom.
EU: Chilling effect occurs under NSL
The #EU External Action Service issued another statement on the same day, saying that HK government disqualifying most of the democratic councillors means denying the DC #election result in 2019. And that excluding the democratic parties from the political participation would weaken Hong Kong democratic governance structure.
The EU indicated that the pressure of civil society is increasing as many unions and organizations in Hong Kong have disbanded. This, again, shows the chilling effect on the rights and freedom in Hong Kong under the NSL and becomes the core of suppressing dissidents.
Source: Stand News #Oct22
https://bit.ly/3DeyQgm
#Disqualification #TakeOath #US StateDepartment
#HKSAR government demanded all #DistrictCouncillors (DC) in Hong Kong to take an oath earlier. 55 DC lost their seats in total as 49 councillors in democratic parties were disqualified due to invalid vows. 6 directly lost their seats due to the absence of #oath. More than 200 DC had resigned earlier due to the oath request.
The US State Department issued a statement on Oct 21, keeping their concerns to the #HumanRights and the #Freedom in Hong Kong, including the continuous erosion of political participation, especially under the National Security Law (#NSL) which increases prosecution with political motivation.
The statement also said that the prosecution was directed to teachers, unions, lawyers, journalists, medical staff, student unions and citizens. The mass DC disqualification is simply to stop HKers to manage their homeland meaningfully.
US State Department again called Beijing and the Hong Kong authority to release people who are detained unfairly, and stop the suppression of peaceful civil organizations. They also pointed out that HKers and the energetic civil society are always the biggest resources in Hong Kong, as well as the foundation of being a successful international finance hub. The US will continue to support HKers, their rights and their freedom.
EU: Chilling effect occurs under NSL
The #EU External Action Service issued another statement on the same day, saying that HK government disqualifying most of the democratic councillors means denying the DC #election result in 2019. And that excluding the democratic parties from the political participation would weaken Hong Kong democratic governance structure.
The EU indicated that the pressure of civil society is increasing as many unions and organizations in Hong Kong have disbanded. This, again, shows the chilling effect on the rights and freedom in Hong Kong under the NSL and becomes the core of suppressing dissidents.
Source: Stand News #Oct22
https://bit.ly/3DeyQgm
#Disqualification #TakeOath #US StateDepartment