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

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming slammed two nation-insulting Hong Kong legislators-elect in an article published in Monday’s Daily Telegraph, saying the pair used derogatory language during their swearing-in.

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 the city, Liu said in the signed article.

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

Liu’s comments came after Hong Kong’s High Court last week disqualified the pair from taking up their posts. The action followed the pair displaying banners proclaiming 'Hong Kong is not China' and using insulting language against the Chinese nation during their swearing-in.

Under Hong Kong’s Basic Law they were required "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 titled "Oath-deniers are violating Hong Kong’s law", Liu said a swearing-in ceremony in accordance with the law by holders of public office is "common practice wherever you are".

"Hong Kong is a part of China," Liu continued. "No country in the world will permit indulgence toward attempts that openly betray and insult one’s own country and nation least of all such attempts by holders of public office."