The decision adopted by China's top legislature on the qualification of local lawmakers in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has clarified the legal basis for "patriots governing Hong Kong" on November 11.

The decision is targeted at activities endangering national security conducted by some Legislative Council (LegCo) members or candidates. It is just and legitimate, and will help end the turbulence in Hong Kong.

Four disqualified lawmakers, Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung, colluded with foreign forces, sided against Hong Kong and the motherland, and severely violated the ethical rules they should observe as lawmakers and the moral obligations they should heed as Chinese.

They have blatantly requested foreign sanctions on China and begged for foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs.

LegCo members must be loyal to the motherland, uphold the Basic Law of HKSAR and support the HKSAR Government's law-based governance. These are not only legal requirements but also the political conditions that must be met to govern Hong Kong.

Hong Kong belongs to China. Hong Kong's political power organs, including the LegCo, must be composed of patriots to ensure the "one country, two systems" practice is not bent or distorted.

This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Xinhua News Agency on November 11