On 11 November 2020, the National People Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) ruled in a decision which bars Legislative Council members from supporting Hong Kong independence, refusing to recognise Beijing's sovereignty over Hong Kong, seeking help from "foreign countries or foreign forces to interfere in the affairs of the region" or committing "other acts that endanger national security", targeting the four sitting legislators, Alvin Yeung, Kwok Ka-ki, Dennis Kwok and Kenneth Leung whose candidacies had been invalidated by the returning officers earlier in July. Following the decision, Chief Executive Carrie Lam explained that it was the Hong Kong government who had requested Beijing's intervention in the matter, contradicting her earlier pledge not to disqualify the four legislators. On the same day, the SAR administration announced that four legislators had been stripped of their seats with immediate effect. In response to the disqualification, Dennis Kwok said that "if observing due process and protecting systems...and fighting for democracy and human rights would lead to the consequences of being disqualified, it would be my honour. I say the same today...it’s been my honour to serve."
