Joint Declaration: full solidarity with Hong Kong’s Pan-democratic Legislators
On November 11, 2020, the adoption of a new resolution by China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) allowed the Hong Kong Executive to immediately disqualify four Members of the Legislative Council without the possibility of judicial appeal. The four pan-dem Legislators Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung were ousted for unspecified “national security” reasons. They had previously been barred from participating in the legislative elections – scheduled for September but postponed for a year – as authorities stated their pledge of alliance to Hong Kong was not sincere.
Following their disqualification, all remaining pan-democratic Legislators announced their collective resignation from the Legislative Council, leaving it with no voices of opposition. In a comment on their decision to resign in solidarity with their four colleagues, Democratic Party head Wu Chi-Wai stated the Standing Committee’s resolution and its execution by the Hong Kong Administration was a clear “reflection of the fact the Central Government has completely renounced the Basic Law and the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.”
We, signatories, express our fullest solidarity with all pan-dem Legislators ousted from the Hong Kong Legislative Council. As elected Members of Parliament of the Italian Republic, representing both majority and opposition forces, we strongly condemn the effective end of democracy imposed in Hong Kong as well as the increase in political persecution for opinion crimes with retroactive application.
We strongly reiterate the formal obligation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China to return to compliance with the “One Country, Two Systems” principle as stipulated in the Sino British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong’s Basic Law, guaranteeing Hong Kong citizens a system based on the rule of law and fundamental human rights.
We will consider all urgent actions to ensure prompt and concrete action by the Italian Republic, recalling the words expressed by Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio last August 25 during the joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart in response to a Joint Appeal by Nathan Law and a cross-party group of Italian MPs: for the Italian Republic “it is essential to preserve Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and freedom. We will closely follow the implications of the new National Security Law.”
Matteo Luigi Bianchi MP
Enrico Borghi MP
Sen. Valeria Fedeli
Paolo Formentini MP
Roberto Giachetti MP
Alessandro Giglio Vigna MP
Sen. Lucio Malan
Sen. Roberto Rampi
Sen. Isabella Rauti
Lia Quartapelle Procopio MP
Sen. Adolfo Urso
Other Signatories:
Amb. Giulio Maria Terzi di Sant’Agata former Minister of Foreign Affairs, President Global Committee for the Rule of Law “Marco Pannella” (GCRL)
Matteo Angioli Secretary Global Committee for the Rule of Law “Marco Pannella” (GCRL)
Ezechia Paolo Reale Secretary General Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Law and Human Rights
Giuseppe Benedetto President Fondazione Luigi Einaudi
Antonio Stango President Federazione Italiana per i Diritti umani (FIDU)
Eleonora Mongelli Vice-President Federazione italiana per i Diritti umani (FIDU)
Elisabetta Zamparutti former Member of Parliament, Treasurer Hands Off Cain
Sergio D’Elia former Member of Parliament, Secretary Hands Off Cain
Marco Beltrandi former Member of Parliament
Marilia Bellaterra President Aref International
Riccardo Zerbetto President World Action Tibet