A second local activist in Hong Kong has been disqualified from running in next month’s Legislative Council elections after declining to sign a new form saying the city is an “inalienable” part of China.
Yeung Ke-cheong, member of the Democratic Progressive Party, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that he had been barred, a day after Chan Ho-tin, a member of the Hong Kong National Party had also been disqualified.
A flag with words reading “Hong Kong independence” is seen during a rally holding by Hong Kong National Party convenor Chan Ho-tin after his application for Legislative Council election was disqualified. July 30, 2016. Photo: Reuters/Tyrone Siu
The Legislative Council plays a key role in scrutinising bills, control public expenditure and handles complaints from the public. The election is being closely watched to see if pro-democracy candidates will be able to secure seats.
Chan received an email from the Electoral Affairs Commission on Saturday which said his application to join the election had been “invalidated”, fuelling speculation that others who hold pro-independence views also could be disqualified.
Pro-independence Hong Kong National Party convenor Chan Ho-tin, speaks during a rally to protest against the disqualification of his application for Legislative Council election. July 30, 2016. Photo: Reuters/Tyrone Siu
“The National Party is honoured to become the first party to be banned from joining a democratic election by the government due to political difference,” the party wrote on its Facebook page.
The requirement that candidates pledge that Hong Kong is part of China, and that advocating independence could make them ineligible to stand for election, is the latest in a series of issues that have raised concern about what many people in Hong Kong see as mainland China’s increasing control.
Pro-independence Hong Kong National Party convenor Chan Ho-tin holds a form saying the city is an “inalienable” part of China, which has been torn into pieces, after being disqualified from running in Legislative Council elections. July 30, 2016.
Photo: Reuters/Tyrone Siu
The government issued a statement saying it agreed to and supported the decision to disqualify Chan.
The activists are one of a number of pro-independence candidates who refused to sign the recently introduced additional declaration form.
Previously, candidates only needed to pledge to uphold Hong Kong laws.
Pro-independence Hong Kong National Party convenor Chan Ho-tin, speaks during a rally to protest against the disqualification of his application for Legislative Council election. July 30, 2016.
A Hong Kong court declined to rule on Wednesday on a challenge filed by activist politicians to the new rule.
About 100 people joined a rally on Saturday night to support Chan.
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