Prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has officially been barred from running in next months’ district council elections.
The news, shared by Wong this morning, came after the validation of his candidacy was delayed long after the more than 1,100 other candidates had already been approved due to questions over his alleged support for Hong Kong independence — a stance he has disavowed.
The official notice of his invalidation, which he posted on Facebook today, did not give a reason for the decision.
In it, elections official Laura Aron merely cited the section of the law requiring returning officers to give notice of a candidate’s validation or invalidation, saying: “I hereby inform you that your nomination as a candidate in the above-mentioned election has been decided by me as invalid.”
https://www.facebook.com/joshuawongchifung/photos/a.564294826996363/2562282653864227/?type=3&theater
Aron was brought on as a replacement returning officer after the official initially in charge of validating Wong’s candidacy, Dorothy Ma, suddenly went on extended sick leave without having issued a decision.
Wong and others had already accused election officials of screening candidates based on their politics, and several other pro-democracy activists also face questions over their stance on independence — support for which is seen by the government as inherently incompatible with Hong Kong’s Basic Law.
All the other questioned candidates, however, were ultimately confirmed.
Responding to a request for clarification from Aron, Wong this week said he did not support independence — a major red line for Beijing — as even an option for Hong Kong, the SCMP reports.
However, he added, expressing support for independence a non-binding formal should be permissible.
“Unless you find a public opinion survey on ‘Hong Kong independence’ also unconstitutional, surveys cannot be against the declaration of allegiance to the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” Wong said in his response.
Reacting to today’s news, Wong pointed the finger at Beijing, accusing it of interfering in Hong Kong’s electoral affairs.
“I become the only candidate banned from running in November’s District Council Election as Returning officer, Laura ARON ruled my nomination invalid this morning,” he said in a tweet. “It proved how Beijing manipulate the election with political cersorship [sic] and screening.”
Updates to come.
