bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Sum Lok-kei

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung has accused the Companies Registry of political censorship after it rejected his bid to register his political party.
Wong, secretary general of Demosisto, challenged the decision on Tuesday, filing a judicial review at the High Court.
He said political views were not relevant to the application process as listed in the Companies Ordinance, which says a firm may only be formed for a lawful purpose.
“In existing laws related to company registration, it does not say those advocating Hong Kong’s self-determination or independence can’t register limited companies,” Wong said.
In a writ submitted to the court, he stated the registry had erred in its understanding of the ordinance.
“’Unlawful purpose’ in ... the Companies Ordinance does not include a contravention of general tenets of the Basic Law,” the writ read.
Wong and party chairman Nathan Law Kwun-chung first applied to set up “Demosisto Limited” in March 2016, a month before they launched the party. Four months later the registry asked Demosisto to explain if it was adhering to the Basic Law by pushing for Hong Kong’s “self-determination”. 
Appeal ruling for Joshua Wong could have ‘chilling effect’ on social activism
In January, party member Agnes Chow Ting was barred from running in the March 11 Legislative Council by-election because, as election officials saw it, the party’s advocacy of self-determination contravened the Basic Law, the city’s de facto constitution.
While those familiar with the process said approvals usually come in a matter of days or a month, the registry finally gave its rejection in January this year. Demosisto’s application to register with the police as a society was also rejected.
The Hong Kong National Party, which advocates the city’s independence, had its application to rename a shell company “HKNP Limited” rejected last year.

Wong accused the registry of prioritising “political considerations” over administrative concerns.
The delay in gaining proper recognition has left Demosisto unable to open a bank account, creating problems for Wong’s party in accounting and receiving donations. It is understood that the party has had to keep money in private bank accounts.
Despite the setbacks, Wong, one of the leaders of the pro-democracy Occupy protests in 2014, has ruled out changing the party’s name.




The Companies Registry, which incorporated 160,229 companies last year, refused to comment on Demosisto’s application, but said applications would be rejected if companies were formed for unlawful purposes.
“If the objects of the proposed company and the nature of activities to be conducted by the proposed company are obviously contrary to the Basic Law, the company is not formed for a lawful purpose,” it said on Tuesday.
For Wong, the rejection of Demosisto’s registration, Chow’s disqualification and the recent controversy over pro-democracy scholar Benny Tai Yiu-ting’s comments on independence all point to the government paving the way for national security laws in Hong Kong.


“In the future, with national security overriding the principles of democratic rule of law, will it lead to those calling for an end to one-party dictatorship [in China] also being unable to own a company?” Wong said.
Asked about the timing of the judicial review, Wong said his party had been caught up in the by-election, in which it supported Au Nok-hin, who won the Hong Kong Island seat.


Beijing tells new US consul general to Hong Kong to respect city’s rule of law

New US Consul General Julie Eadeh arrives in Hong Kong after Beijing’s approval

Hong Kong to remove at least 5 opposition groups from societies register

US career diplomat Julie Eadeh tipped to be next consul general in Hong Kong

Joshua Wong

Were ‘political considerations’ behind rejection of Joshua Wong’s Hong Kong political party?

Demosisto’s Joshua Wong filed his judicial review at the High Court. Photo: Winson Wong

Pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow calls slogans during a protest at Central Government Complex in Hong Kong on Januray 28, 2018. Protesters in Hong Kong gathered outside the government's headquarters Sunday evening after a leading pro-democracy activist was barred from standing for lawmaker in upcoming elections. The ban on 21-year-old Agnes Chow, who was at the forefront of mass 2014 Umbrella Movement rallies calling for political reform, is the latest blow for the democracy camp and another sign that Beijing is tightening its grip on the semi-autonomous city. / AFP PHOTO / Philip FONG

News

Hong Kong

Politics

Demosisto secretary general challenges Companies Registry’s decision at High Court, saying group’s political platform should not affect whether it can be incorporated
