Eligibility of disqualified lawmaker to run in Legco by-election will be examined, justice minister says
‘Legal issues’ surrounding Edward Yiu Chung-yim standing in coming poll discussed
The Department of Justice is studying the legal issues relating to the eligibility of a disqualified lawmaker to run in the upcoming Legislative Council by-elections, Hong Kong’s justice minister said on Sunday morning.
After a live programme at Commercial Radio, the newly appointed Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said: “On the case of [Edward] Yiu Chung-yim, study is being conducted to look into the legal issues.” She did not provide further elaboration.
Academic Yiu, who was originally elected to represent the architectural, surveying, planning and landscape sector in the Legislative Council in 2016, is among the six pro-democracy lawmakers stripped of their seats by High Court for failing to take their oath properly.
He won a landslide victory in the pan-democratic camp’s recent primary to run for the seat in Kowloon West vacated by another disqualified lawmaker, Yau Wai-ching, in the March 11 by-elections.
Yiu submitted his nomination form on Saturday without drama, but uncertainties remained as the government refused to offer a firm answer on whether he could secure a ticket or not.