Hong Kong bars activist Joshua Wong from running in election

Hong Kong disqualified activist Joshua Wong from running in District Council elections next month, in a blow to protesters’ efforts to win greater electoral influence in the former British colony.

Wong confirmed yesterday that he was barred from seeking a seat in the Nov. 24 poll. The government said in a separate statement, without naming any candidates, that support for “self-determination” was inconsistent with Hong Kong’s Basic Law and affirmed its support for the official who made the decision.

“I become the only candidate banned from running in November’s District Council Election,” Wong said in a tweet. “It proved how Beijing manipulates the election with political censorship and screening.”

Wong, a former student activist who gained international recognition for his leadership role in the 2014 Occupy protests, has supported “self-determination” for Hong Kong.

He has been less important to the current protest movement, which has been leaderless and whose participants have sought to remain anonymous. His activities have nonetheless made him a target of China’s communist leaders, who have used him to accuse foreign powers of colluding with anti-China separatists to foment unrest.

City officials equate the support for self-determination with advocating independence.

Wong “has immense symbolic significance for young people” in Hong Kong and disqualifying him is likely to worsen the ongoing unrest, said Willy Lam, an adjunct professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Centre for China Studies.

“The disqualification of Joshua could become another cause celebre for the opposition to rally people and ensure that the confrontation will continue and even be exacerbated,” Lam said. “It’s a very stupid move on the part of the SAR administration.”

Wong was banned because while he didn’t associate himself with Demosisto in his application, he is a founding member of the group, Radio Television Hong Kong reported, citing a notice from an electoral official. Demosisto is a pro-democracy organization advocating self-determination for the city.

The decision to bar Wong from running follows a pattern by the Hong Kong government to prevent more radical pro-democracy activists from securing elected office on the grounds that their views violate the law. In 2016, the government prevented some “localist” lawmakers from running for the Legislative Council, and subsequently ousted others who secured seats in the chamber.

The move came shortly after the city’s embattled chief executive, Carrie Lam – selected by a 1,200-member committee dominated by Beijing loyalists in 2017 – dismissed reports that Chinese leaders were planning to replace her next year.

Neighborhood councilors and half of Hong Kong’s legislature are directly elected, but the rest are chosen by trade and industry groups while the top leader is handpicked by an elite pro-Beijing panel. The protesters’ demands include full democracy.

The disqualification came as Lam ruled out finding a political resolution before ending protest violence.

“For the government to resort to measures that will appease the violent rioters, I don’t think that is the solution,” she told reporters. “Until and unless we tackle the violence and put an end to it, it is very difficult to continue the political dialogue we have done.”

Hong Kong has been gripped since early June by the political crisis, with peaceful but often unauthorized marches descending into chaos as hardcore demonstrators hurling fire bombs and bricks battle police firing tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon. Both sides blame each other for using increasingly aggressive tactics. MDT/Agencies