Lawmakers in Hong Kong's new 'patriots only' legislature have taken oaths following last month's election that barred the city's traditional democracy opposition
The loyalty oaths were overseen by city leader Carrie Lam whose administration no longer needs to face any meaningful opposition from a once boisterous legislature now stacked with loyalists for the next four years.
In a ceremony laden with symbolism reflecting Hong Kong's new political realities on Monday, 90 lawmakers took their oaths in the chamber where the city's traditional emblem had been replaced by China's. A national security law has criminalised much dissent while new laws were passed to purge from public office anyone deemed unpatriotic.All candidates were vetted for their political loyalty and only 20 of the 90 seats were directly elected, while the rest are chosen by pro-Beijing committees.
Only one of the 90 lawmakers who made it through the vetting and got elected identifies as "non-establishment". Most of Hong Kong's best known democracy activists are in jail, have fled overseas or left politics since Beijing's crackdown began. Monday's ceremony was completed without incident – a stark contrast to 2016 when six pro-democracy legislators used their oaths to chant slogans or display banners.
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