Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong’s district council candidacy still in limbo as Hong Kong government vetting officer abruptly replaced

In move described as ‘strange’ official in charge of vetting Wong’s candidacy took indefinite sick leave and on Thursday was replaced

Former student leader is very last of more than 1,100 hopefuls to have candidacies decided by returning officers of the Home Affairs Department

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Activist Joshua Wong at Southern district office on Thursday. He filed his application to run for the South Horizons West seat on October 4. Photo: May Tse

Published: 8:20pm, 24 Oct 2019Updated: 12:07pm, 27 Oct 2019

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung’s bid to run in Hong Kong’s coming district council elections remains in limbo after the government official in charge of vetting his candidacy took indefinite sick leave and on Thursday was replaced.

The 23-year-old former student leader is now the last of more than 1,100 hopefuls to have their candidacies confirmed or rejected by returning officers of the Home Affairs Department.

Wong on Thursday criticised the delay as putting him at a disadvantage in the November 24 polls. A local political scientist said the “strange” replacement of the official might raise doubts about the candidate vetting process.

Wong, the secretary general of pro-democracy group Demosisto, filed his application to run for the South Horizons West seat in the Southern District Council on October 4, the first day of the candidacy period.

Until this week, Wong’s application had been vetted by returning officer Dorothy Ma Chow Pui-fun, who twice questioned him last week over his affiliation with Demosisto and his stance on Hong Kong’s self-determination.

In past elections, some applicants, including Wong’s ally Agnes Chow Ting, were barred from running because their political positions were considered incompatible with the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.