Warning for Hong Kong's anti-China leaders

"The mainland underscored its 'resolute opposition' against any form of 'Hong Kong independence' activities inside or outside of the special administrative region's (SAR) Legislative Council (LegCo)," Chinese state news agency Xinhua said in a statement on Tuesday, quoting a spokesperson of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council.

The statement also emphasized that independence for Hong Kong "was against the Constitution of China, the Basic Law...that it was a threat to Chinese sovereignty and security, damaged the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and was counter to the fundamental interests of Hong Kong citizens," Xinhua reported.

State-owned China Daily also noted that wins by pro-independence candidates could mean "separatist ideas" emerging in the LegCo. It also quoted Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying as saying that he would welcome the new members and listen to their opinions. However, the city was an "inalienable" part of China and an "advocacy of separation is unacceptable."

Polls for Hong Kong's legislative assembly were held on Sunday, with 30 anti-establishment parties winning seats in the 70-member LegCo. A record 58 percent of voters elected their leaders. Five of the winning candidates were student leaders, including Nathan Law of Demosisto party and Yau Wai-ching of Youngspiration, and had protested in the pro-democracy "Umbrella Revolution" in 2014.

Many candidates favouring independence were disqualified from Sunday's elections.

Beijing also introduced a controversial law which required candidates to sign a document saying they understood Hong Kong was an "inalienable part of China." Many refused to sign it.

Hong Kong is a former British colony that was returned to China in 1997. The city is ruled under a "one country two systems" deal that protects its freedoms.

However, Hong Kong's youth are complaining about what they perceive as Beijing's increasing interference.

mg/rc (AFP)