Hong Kong, obligation of patriotic oath to China for deputies

Hong Kong will demand 'patriotic' requirements from parliamentarians and district councilors with an oath to emphasize support for Basic Law, the local constitution, and loyalty to the city and Beijing government.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Constitutional and Continental Affairs Erick Tsang, explaining the measure, said anyone who violates it will be excluded from the elections for 5 years.

With the initiative, Beijing signals that it no longer intends to tolerate voices of dissent, 23 years after the return of the territories from Great Britain to China, despite the promise to maintain broad rights and freedoms for 50 years.