China’s top agency overseeing Hong Kong said lawmakers blocking action by the local legislature were potentially violating their oaths, in a signal that Beijing was losing patience with the monthslong legislative logjam.
The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office urged the city’s Legislative Council in a statement released Monday to end the stalemate and resume normal operations. Opposition lawmakers led by Civic Party member Dennis Kwok have prevented the body’s agenda-setting House Committee from electing a chairman since October, barring the panel from conducting business, it said.
"Some opposition lawmakers have resorted to sleazy tactics to paralyze the legislature for political gain at the expense of the public, which is tantamount to ‘political mutual destruction,’” the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said. "They could have violated their oath, which could mean misconduct in public office.”