SAR govt rejects UK accusation
The British government’s voicing of “concern” over voting rights in Hong Kong and the city’s autonomy drew an official statement from the special administrative region government on Thursday.
The returning officers’ disqualification of a candidate from next month’s Legislative Council by-election was “in strict accordance with laws” and done to ensure an “open, honest and fair” election, the government said on Thursday.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, or FCO, earlier commented on the byelection, voicing concern over an alleged erosion of Hong Kong people’s rights to stand for election and questioning the city’s high degree of autonomy.
A SAR government spokesman said the returning officers’ decision had considered the facts and requirements of relevant electoral laws.
The move was made to ensure the by-election is held in strict accordance with the Basic Law, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other applicable laws in an open, honest and fair manner, the spokesman said.
The spokesman stressed the SAR government has a duty to implement and uphold the Basic Law and ensure all elections will be conducted in accordance with the Basic Law and relevant electoral legislation.
“There is no question of restriction of the freedom of speech or deprivation of the right to stand for election as alleged by some members of the community,” the spokesman added.
Since its return to the
The SAR government has a duty to ... ensure all elections will be conducted in accordance with the Basic Law and relevant electoral legislation.”
motherland, the Hong Kong SAR has exercised a high degree of autonomy and “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” in strict accordance with the Basic Law, the government spokesman said.
“The HKSAR Government all along respects and safeguards the rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with law, including the rights to vote and to stand for election.”
The FCO statement came after a returning officer ruled the nomination of a localist, LegCo contender Agnes Chow Ting, invalid last Saturday, as Chow’s political track record contravened the Basic Law and the Legislative Council Ordinance.
Chow, co-founder and deputy secretary-general of localist party Demosisto, had planned to contest the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency LegCo seat. Her party stated in its manifesto that it aims to achieve “self-determination” with “Hong Kong independence” as an option.