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Splittism Opposed by HK Council
The Legislative Council voted unanimously Wednesday to oppose independence for Taiwan.
The vote - 43-0 with one abstaining - supports the position of the Chinese central government, which has made Taiwan reunification with the motherland a top priority.
The motion that was approved said simply: "That this council opposes Taiwan becoming independent."
The legislative councillor who introduced the motion, Tsang Yok-sing of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, said: "Hong Kong people are concerned about the Taiwan question and the possibility Taiwan is heading towards its splittist path. We are concerned not only out of our care for the affairs of our motherland, but because peace across the Taiwan Straits are also directly related to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.
"Hong Kong will not be able to draw itself away from the situation."
In 1997, Hong Kong was reunited with the motherland.
Last year, Portuguese rule came to an end in Macao, which also returned to the motherland.
The non-voting president of the Legislative Council presided over debate on the motion.
Fifteen councillors were absent for the vote.
Legislative Councillor Ambrose Lau of the Hong Kong Progressive Alliance stressed that Chinese people would not support Taiwan independence.
"A territorially complete China is the very foundation for a strong China," Lau said. "So every Chinese should be duty-bound to protect China's territorial integrity."
Clement Mak, secretary for security for the Special Administrative Region, said since 1997, Hong Kong has been hoping for China's reunification at an early date.
"We have been working hard to implement the 'one country, two systems' and practice 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong.'
"We hope that the reunification can be achieved peacefully. That is the common wish of all Chinese people and that is in the best interests of Hong Kong," Mak said.
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