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.¡±
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