Political storm in Hong Kong as activist Agnes Chow banned from by-election over party’s call for city’s ‘self-determination’
Demosisto hopeful decries ‘political screening’ after her candidacy declared invalid by electoral authorities
Hong Kong election authorities sparked a political storm on Saturday by banning a pro-democracy activist with strong youth support from running in a Legislative Council by-election in March.
Agnes Chow Ting accused the government of “political screening” after her nomination as a candidate was ruled invalid by a returning officer from the Electoral Affairs Commission on the grounds that her party, Demosisto, had called for “self-determination” for the city, rendering her ineligible under rules to curb independence advocacy.
While opposition politicians cried foul and some legal experts expressed reservations about the justification for such a drastic step, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor insisted it had been done by the book. “Any suggestion of ‘Hong Kong independence’, ‘self-determination’, independence as a choice, or self-autonomy, is not in line with Basic Law requirements, and deviates from the important principle of ‘one country two systems’,” she said, referring to the city’s mini-constitution.
The chief executive added that her government would not violate laws by intervening, even though she was trying to improve relations with the legislature and heal wounds in a divided society.
“It is obviously a political decision and political screening, and the government is trying to shirk responsibility [by passing it on] to the returning officer, who should be only in charge of executive procedures,” Chow said. “We can see that Hong Kong is not ruled by law or [governed by] the rule of law, but only ruled by the Beijing government.”