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Hong Kong arrests ousted pro-independence lawmakers over oath-taking fiasco

Hong Kong independence activists Yau Wai-Ching and Baggio Leung speak to the press after their release from Central police station in Hong Kong on April 26, 2017. - AFP
Hong Kong independence activists Yau Wai-Ching and Baggio Leung speak to the press after their release from Central police station in Hong Kong on April 26, 2017. - AFP

Two former Hong Kong pro-independence lawmakers were arrested without warning by local police on Wednesday morning as part of what many fear to be a wider crackdown on dissent by the Beijing government. 

Police raided the homes of Yau Wai-Ching and Sixtus "Baggio" Leung, both of the Youngspiration party, at 7am before they were interrogated and later released on bail.

Speaking to reporters outside Hong Kong's Central Police Station where they were detained, the pair announced that they were expected to attend a court hearing on Friday relating to charges of unlawful assembly and attempted forced entry.

“The government’s regime will do whatever it takes to destroy and wipe out Hong Kong’s cries for self-determination," said Ms Yau. “But we will never give up.”

The charges refer to an incident in November last year, when the democratically elected lawmakers tried to storm a Hong Kong Legislative Council meeting after they staged a controversial anti-China protest during their swearing-in ceremony a few weeks earlier.

In a dramatic diversion from the usual oaths, Ms Yau and Mr Leung swore allegiance to the "Hong Kong nation" instead of China, and unfurled a large banner that read "Hong Kong is not China". They also publicly used an offensive term to refer to China. 

Thousands of Hong Kong residents protested against their actions, demanding that they be removed from parliament. 

After weeks of political turmoil, their oaths were disqualified and the pair were barred by Beijing from taking up office - the strongest sign of government intervention in Hong Kong politics since the former British colony was handed back to China in 1997.

Pro-independence lawmakers Baggio Leung (L) and Yau Wai-ching speak to the press outside the High Court in Hong Kong on 30 November 2016 following their disqualification from parliament.  - Credit: Anthony Wallace/AFP
Pro-independence lawmakers Baggio Leung (L) and Yau Wai-ching speak to the press outside the High Court in Hong Kong on 30 November 2016 following their disqualification from parliament. Credit: Anthony Wallace/AFP

Both Mr Leung and Ms Yau plan to contest the charges, claiming that they had not yet been formally disqualified from office on November 2, the day they attempted to re-enter parliament to retake their oaths.

Scuffles broke out which led to the hospitalisation of three security guards. Mr Leung claims that three of their former assistants were also arrested.

“When three or more persons assemble together and conduct themselves in a disorderly manner ... they are an unlawful assembly regardless of their social status,” a police source told the South China Morning Post.

The pair were elected into Hong Kong's main lawmaking body last September on the back of their vocal pro-independence and anti-China activism.

Since then, the outspoken young politicians have been a thorn in Beijing's side, with a top Chinese government official denouncing the pair as 'cancer cells'.

Civic Party lawmaker Tanya Chan attends a protest in Hong Kong on March 27, 2017. Police cracked down on Hong Kong democracy activists saying they would be charged over the Umbrella Movement mass protests, a day after a pro-Beijing candidate was chosen as the city's new leader.  - Credit: Jayne Russell/AFP
Civic Party lawmaker Tanya Chan attends a protest in Hong Kong on March 27, 2017. Police cracked down on Hong Kong democracy activists saying they would be charged over the Umbrella Movement mass protests, a day after a pro-Beijing candidate was chosen as the city's new leader. Credit: Jayne Russell/AFP

Hong Kong, although officially a part of China, is considered as an autonomous territory and operates under the 'One Country, two Systems' rule.

In principle, this allows Hong Kongers more political freedoms than those living in mainland China - such as the opportunity to elect parliamentary representatives who make up the Legislative Council. 

However, local fears that Beijing wishes to exert increasing political influence over the territory have led to an upsurge in support for pro-democracy parties in recent years.

The 2014 Umbrella movement saw thousands of people take to the streets demanding the universal suffrage denied them by Beijing.

Nine Umbrella movement demonstrators were unexpectedly arrested by police earlier this month - the day after Carrie Lam, the new Chief Executive, was elected. 

However, according to a Reuters poll conducted last year, the majority of Hong Kongers do not support full independence away from the mainland.

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