Hong Kong leader warns on independence push in final speech
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hong Kong's outgoing leader has issued a warning in his farewell policy speech to those advocating independence for the Chinese-controlled territory.
In his annual address to the legislature, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said Wednesday that Hong Kong is an "inalienable" part of China.
He said, "There is absolutely no room for independence or any form of separation."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The latter part of Leung's five-year term has been marked by growing separatist sentiment following massive 2014 pro-democracy protests that failed to sway the government's position on restricting electoral reform.
Last year, Leung's government took a tough stance against two newly elected lawmakers, taking legal action to disqualify them after they used their swearing-in ceremonies to mount apparent protests against China and express pro-independence views.