Chinese ambassador to Britain slams nation-insulting legislators-elect in Hong Kong

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming on Monday slammed two Hong Kong legislators-elect who used derogatory language against the Chinese nation while taking their oaths last month, accusing them of violating the local law.

In a signed article appeared on Monday's edition of Daily Telegraph, Liu said that rule of law is one of the core values of Hong Kong society where a few "Hong Kong independence" activists, in the name of "democracy" and "freedom of speech", are carrying out acts that violate the law and destabilize Hong Kong.

"These individuals must be held responsible for undermining the rule of law and social order in Hong Kong," he wrote.

Liu's comments came days after Hong Kong's High Court ruled that two legislators-elect, who used insulting language against the Chinese nation while taking their oaths last month, must be disqualified as lawmakers.

The two legislators-elect, Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching, used derogatory language insulting the Chinese nation when reading out their oaths at a swearing-in ceremony on Oct. 12. Yau also displayed a banner proclaiming "Hong Kong is not China."

The oath provided for by the Basic law includes "to uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and swear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China."

In his article, Liu said that oath taking in accordance with law by holders of public office is common practice wherever you are.

The so-called "Hong Kong independence" or "Hong Kong self-determination" is aimed at splitting China where Hong Kong is a part, he added.