Analysts, including top adviser to city leader, warn rejection of pro-democracy activist has far-reaching implications for political parties contesting seats
Legal professionals, including a top adviser to Hong Kong’s leader, see no grounds for electoral authorities to ban any more candidates from running in the coming Legislative Council by-election after pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow Ting was disqualified from the race.
They also warned that Chow’s rejection would have far-reaching implications for political parties contesting seats in the city’s legislature.
Hours after they spoke on Sunday, at least 2,000 people rallied outside government headquarters at Tamar for a pro-democracy protest, warning against any further disqualification.
With the nomination period for the by-election set to end on Monday, the focus is on whether authorities will also ban Edward Yiu Chung-yim, the opposition pan-democrats’ candidate for the Kowloon West constituency, and Au Nok-hin, the candidate replacing Chow for the Hong Kong Island seat.
Democratic Party district councillor Ramon Yuen Hoi-man is expected to sign up on Monday as a backup candidate for Kowloon West, if Yiu’s candidacy is not confirmed by noon.
Chow’s nomination was ruled invalid on Saturday by a returning officer from the Electoral Affairs Commission on the grounds that her party, Demosisto, had called for “self-determination” for the city, rendering her ineligible under rules to curb independence advocacy .
At the RTHK’s City Forum on Sunday, Chow said her party “opposes and does not advocate Hong Kong’s independence” from China.
Yiu, one of six opposition lawmakers stripped of their Legislative Council seats earlier for improper oath-taking, was contacted on Friday by a returning officer who quizzed him on his position on “self-determination”, as well as details about his meeting last year with Taiwan’s pro-independence New Power Party.
