A dozen Hong Kong pro-democracy nominees disqualified

At least 12 Hong Kong prodemocracy nominees, including prominent activist Joshua Wong, were disqualified for September legislative elections, with authorities saying they failed to uphold the city’s mini-constitution and pledge allegiance to Hong Kong and Beijing.

Others who were disqualified include democracy activist Tiffany Yuen from the disbanded political organisation Demosisto, as well as incumbent lawmaker Dennis Kwok and three others from the prodemocracy Civic Party.

It marks a setback for the pro-democracy camp, which had aimed to win a majority of seats in the legislature this year. Earlier this month they held an unofficial primary, with candidates including Mr Wong topping the polls.

Mr Wong said he was disqualified because he had described the city’s recently imposed national security law as draconian, which indicated he did not support the law and thus invalidated his candidacy.

“Clearly, Beijing shows a total disregard for the will of the Hongkongers, tramples upon the city’s last pillar of vanishing autonomy and attempts to keep Hong Kong’s legislature under its firm grip,” Mr Wong said in a Facebook post.

Mr Wong and many prodemocracy nominees had been asked to clarify their political stance earlier this week as their nominations were being reviewed.

Mr Kwok said the disqualificationof pro-democracy nominees was a political decision that amounted to political screening. “Today we are seeing the results of the relentless oppression that this regime is starting ... to take away the basic fundamental rights and freedom that are once enjoyed by all Hong Kong people under the Basic Law,” Mr Kwok said. The Basic Law is Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.

Mr Kwok added: “They also try to drive fear and oppression into our hearts and this, we must not let them succeed.”

Other nominees were still being reviewed, the government said in a statement expressing support for the disqualifications.

“We do not rule out the possibility that more nominations would be invalidated,” the statement said.

Earlier yesterday, Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Lee Cheuk-yan denounced the new national security law imposed by Beijing in response to last year’s massive protests calling for greater freedoms.

He criticised authorities for arresting four youths under the law on suspicion of inciting secession via online posts.

“Hong Kong politics keeps changing,” said Mr Lee. “Now they are using the national security law against the young people. These young people are being charged just for the things they said.”