Ousted pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmaker Lau Siu-lai barred from Kowloon West Legislative Council by-election
Removed over oath-taking controversy last year, Lau had hoped to return to the chamber
A fresh political storm erupted on Friday after the government banned the ousted opposition lawmaker Lau Siu-lai from running for a seat in the legislature on the grounds that she once advocated self-determination for Hong Kong.
Citing her remarks made two years ago, the returning officer appointed by the Electoral Affairs Commission argued that Lau had not genuinely changed her stance even though she had ditched the self-determination calls over the past months in preparation for the Kowloon West by-election on November 25.
Lau’s pan-democratic supporters and some legal experts slammed the decision as essentially stripping her of her political rights for life, and accused the government of violating procedural fairness by not giving her a chance to defend herself.
The controversial disqualification, set to further hamper the pro-democracy bloc’s chances in the ballot, also has wider implications – it means other lawmakers who once called for self-determination, such as Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, could be barred from running in the next citywide Legislative Council elections in 2020.
“The move clearly shows [the] government is trying to use fear against dissident voices,” a statement issued by 24 pan-democratic lawmakers read.
In the seven-page reasoning for the disqualification, returning officer Franco Kwok Wai-fun argued that Lau did not accept China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong. He cited her declaration in July 2016, made jointly with political party Demosisto and Chu, calling for “democratic self-determination” while keeping open the option for independence.