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Voter seeks judicial review over victorious pan-democrat’s Hong Kong election candidacy

Pro-establishment supporter lodges legal papers challenging Au Nok-hin and returning officer, claiming pan-democrat was ineligible to run because he burned a copy of Basic Law

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Wong Tai-hoi (centre) wants to unseat Au Nok-hin. Photo: Winson Wong

The first legal dispute over the Legislative Council by-election at the weekend has found its way to a Hong Kong court, with a pro-establishment supporter challenging the validity of a newly elected pan-democratic lawmaker accused of burning a copy of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.

Vowing to pay for the legal action out of his own pocket, Wong Tai-hoi – secretary general of the Taxi Drivers and Operators Association – lodged a judicial review application on Tuesday challenging democrat Au Nok-hin and returning officer Anne Teng Yu-yan, who approved Au’s candidacy to run in the by-election on Sunday.

Au, who contested the Hong Kong Island constituency seat, bagged 137,181 votes to beat the New People’s Party’s Judy Chan Ka-pui, who got 127,634.

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Au Nok-hin (second right) won the Hong Kong Island seat. Photo: Sam Tsang
Au Nok-hin (second right) won the Hong Kong Island seat. Photo: Sam Tsang

Wong, a 47-year-old resident from Siu Sai Wan, on the east side of Hong Kong Island, let former pro-Beijing lawmaker Wong Kwok-hing, who accompanied him and his lawyer to the High Court, do most of the talking when they met the press.

Is there a future for the pro-democracy camp after by-election loss?

“The returning officer did not handle Au’s eligibility to run for the Hong Kong Island constituency in accordance with the law,” Wong Kwok-hing said.

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