Hong Kong voters, not election officials, should decide the fate of candidates with extreme views
Mike Rowse says the administration has effectively lost the Legco election with its clumsy efforts to bar localist candidates, a move that is likely to engender long-lasting ill feeling
In terms of integrity, respect for the rule of law, and general political skill as displayed in recent weeks, I think it is fair to say the administration has already lost the 2016 Legislative Council election. It has certainly abandoned the moral high ground without putting up much of a fight.
The extraordinarily clumsy effort to bar certain candidates from even standing in the polls due early next month will probably backfire. It will engender ill feeling that will endure for months or years, even among the vast majority who agree that the idea of independence for Hong Kong is a total non-starter. Stand by for more complaints of an obstructive Legco.
Disqualifying localist Legco candidates lets politics ‘eat into’ legal system, former Bar Association chair says
While some aspects of the saga have featured in the media, other details of administrative machinery may not have captured their due share of attention. Take the fact that most civil servants involved in administering elections are volunteers. Only a small minority are engaged full time in the politics and mechanics of the elections.
Normal practice in the run-up to an electoral cycle is for a circular to be issued within the civil service, inviting people to take part in extra duties. Many do volunteer, and all those whose application is approved are then given copious notes on what to do, supplemented by a special briefing by senior officials.
It is ludicrous to suppose that a number of returning officers, spontaneously, simultaneously and separately on their own initiative, began to challenge the application papers submitted by some candidates. Of course they didn’t; they were instructed to do so at the oral briefing, supplemented by the no doubt carefully worded, detailed written instructions.
It is ludicrous to suppose that a number of returning officers, spontaneously, simultaneously and separately ... began to challenge the application papers
The important point is that someone within the administration actually raised the question: “How can we stop these candidates registering for the poll?”, worked out possible administrative actions, and then prepared an action plan and drew up detailed instructions for others to implement.