Advertisement

Opinion | Legco term extension poses a dilemma for opposition lawmakers, but they must stay and fight

  • If the opposition legislators who have been disqualified from the elections stay, they will be condemned by localists. But, if the pro-democracy camp boycotts Legco, who will speak out against controversial government proposals?

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
The Civic Party held a press conference on July 30, after four of its members, including incumbent lawmakers Kwok Ka-ki (third from left), Alvin Yeung (fourth) and Dennis Kwok (sixth), were disqualified from the Legco elections. Photo: AP
The National People’s Congress Standing Committee has decided to extend the term of Hong Kong’s incumbent lawmakers for no less than a year, as a solution to the postponement of next month’s Legislative Council elections. However, it did not rule on the status of the four pro-democracy legislators who had been disqualified from seeking re-election.
Advertisement
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said in a radio interview that the government hopes all serving lawmakers will continue their duties in the coming year. This means that the four opposition lawmakers can stay in Legco.

The democrats are now on the horns of a dilemma. The matter has already stirred up hot debate among traditional democrats and localists. Some have started to point fingers. This has the makings of the ugly internal strife the Communist Party must be waiting for.

If the four stay, they will be condemned as megalomaniacs by localists. They will be seen as traitors who endorse the Communist Party’s decision to postpone the elections in the first place. Also, in this scenario, Beijing cannot be accused of pushing out the four lawmakers twice.

However, if the pro-democracy camp boycotts the legislature, there will be no opposition voice speaking out against controversial government proposals. The government will be able to pass all bills and budgets without any resistance.
Advertisement

The opposition camp will lose four seats in Legco, as well as the funding and resources that come with them. Without this support from within the system, it is questionable whether the battle on the street can be sustained. If worse comes to worst, Beijing can continue postponing the elections and prolonging the term of the current lawmakers.

Advertisement