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Hong Kong Activists Join Silent Parade to Protest Beijing's Interference

© REUTERS / Tyrone SiuLegislator and barrister Dennis Kwok (L) and Former legislator Martin Lee (2nd-L) wearing black stage a silent protest to the Court of Final Appeal against China's parliament passed an interpretation of Basic Law, in Hong Kong, China November 8, 2016
Legislator and barrister Dennis Kwok (L) and Former legislator Martin Lee (2nd-L) wearing black stage a silent protest to the Court of Final Appeal against China's parliament passed an interpretation of Basic Law, in Hong Kong, China November 8, 2016 - Sputnik International
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More than 2,000 lawyers and activists participated in silent protest in Hong Kong against what they believe to be Beijing's interference with Hong Kong's legal system, according to local media.

Police stop demonstrators as they protest against what they call Beijing's interference over local politics and the rule of law, a day before China's parliament is expected to announce their interpretation of the Basic Law in light of two pro-independence lawmakers' oath-taking controversy in Hong Kong, China November 6, 2016. - Sputnik International
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China Passes Controversial Interpretation of Hong Kong's Basic Law
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — More than 2,000 lawyers and activists all dressed in black gathered in Hong Kong on Tuesday in a silent protest against what they believe to be Beijing's interference with Hong Kong's legal system by preventing two democratically elected politicians who support the city's independence from China from joining the parliament, media reported.

"They think that by … taking away people’s rights [to take office] then Hong Kong people will become silent. But it doesn’t work like that. The more severe the attack, the more repression there is, very often the reaction goes stronger, particularly among young people," Audrey Eu, a pro-democracy politician who joined the parade, said as cited by The Guardian.

The protest was called for by pro-democracy groups who wrote ads in local newspapers. Later in the afternoon, hundreds of activists and lawyers gathered outside the high court to begin their silent march to protest against Beijing "destroying the rule of law" in Hong Kong.

Pro-Beijing supporters gather outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on October 26, 2016 - Sputnik International
Asia
Over 10,000 China Loyalists Protest in Hong-Kong Against Pro-Democracy Activists
In early September, Baggio Leung, 30, and Yau Wai-ching, 25, known for their political views that support Hong Kong seeking greater autonomy from China, were elected to Hong Kong's Legislative Council. During their swearing-in ceremony they lashed out at Beijing and held flags that read "Hong Kong is not China."

The move angered Beijing who replied by issuing a legal interpretation of Hong Kong's constitution in order to prevent the two young politicians from joining the parliament in what was perceived by many as the most direct intervention by Beijing in the semi-autonomous city.

China gained sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 and over Macau in 1999. Both administrative regions were granted legal, economic and political autonomy from Beijing under the "one country, two systems" principle formulated by Chairman of the Central Advisory Commission of the Communist Party of China Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s.

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