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Legislative Council elections 2020
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Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung was among the opposition figures who received the letters. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong elections: at least nine opposition camp members seeking legislative seats pressed over security law views and loyalty to city

  • Letters sent by officials vetting candidates for September polls ask about lobbying US for sanctions
  • Election hopefuls also requested to explain previous statements about plans to veto budget
At least nine members of Hong Kong’s opposition camp intending to run in September’s legislative polls have been pressed by election officials over their criticism of the national security law, lobbying trips to the US and their allegiance to the city.

Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu and member Dennis Kwok were among election hopefuls who received letters on Saturday from officials at the district level responsible for vetting candidates’ applications.

Yeung and Kwok were asked about their earlier visit to the United States to lobby for the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was passed last year amid anti-government protests. It allows for economic and diplomatic sanctions against the financial hub and officials deemed to have undermined the high degree of autonomy the city enjoys from mainland China.

Do you still continue to request the United States to implement the relevant sanctions against [Hong Kong]
Letter sent to Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung

“Do you still continue to request the United States to implement the relevant sanctions against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region?” the officials wrote to the pair. “Do you have the intention to request other foreign countries push ahead with similar laws?”

It continued: “Your request … was actually to lend force from foreign governments to exert pressure on the Hong Kong government, and allow foreign forces to interfere in the internal affairs of the HKSAR. How do such acts match with the substantial requirement of upholding the Basic Law and pledging allegiance to the HKSAR as you have signed in the nomination form?”

The duo flew to New York in August last year and met United States officials and congressmen over the city’s political crisis and the rights act. The trip coincided with a four-day exchange between Hong Kong and US lawmakers held in Montana, which was also joined by two pro-establishment lawmakers.

Similar letters were sent to the Civic Party’s Kwok Ka-ki, incumbent lawmaker Kenneth Leung, district councillors Cheng Tat-hung, Fergus Leung Fong-wai and Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai, as well as localists Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam and Ventus Lau Wing-hong. They were asked to provide answers by Sunday noon.

05:50

What you should know about China's new national security law for Hong Kong

What you should know about China's new national security law for Hong Kong

Civic Party chairman Alan Leong Kah-kit said its members were given less than 24 hours to answer the questions, slamming the arrangement as “totally unacceptable, and unreasonable to the extent that is oppressive”.

They wrote to the officials and requested an extension until Monday 6pm but were quickly rejected by officials who said the deadline remained.

We are condemning such administrative vetting for political stances, particularly when the goalposts are moved as the government decides,” Leong added.

The elections scheduled for September 6 come after Beijing imposed the national security law on the city late last month targeting secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

The opposition camp aims to secure the first-ever majority in the legislature, but some observers have voiced concerns Beijing will seek to disqualify candidates under the new law. Since 2016, at least 10 election hopefuls have been barred from running in local or legislative elections due to their political stance.

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The letters sent to Civic Party members also asked about their remarks in a press conference held in March, during which the organisation vowed to veto all government bills and the annual budget unless the chief executive addressed the five demands of anti-government protesters, including universal suffrage.

The members should explain how that stance aligned with the requirement to serve the city.

The opposition camp has been pushing ahead with its “35-plus” campaign aiming to secure a majority of the Legislative Council’s 70 seats. With that advantage, the opposition has said in hoped to block the passing of the government’s budget and force the administration to respond to the demands raised by the protest movement.

Cheng and Lau were questioned over their opposition to the national security law, with the letter citing posts made on their Facebook pages. They were asked whether they “opposed in principle” the national security law, and “opposed the constitutional responsibility of the HKSAR to safeguard national security”.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: officials quiz poll hopefuls over views
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