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Newly appointed Hong Kong No 2 official John Lee. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong elections: candidates deemed ‘unpatriotic’ will be told disqualification reasons, No 2 official says, vowing transparency

  • Chief Secretary John Lee also suggests unseated opposition district councillors can still try for future polls as eligibility reassessed on every application
  • Former security minister is also the newly appointed chairman of the powerful vetting committee that will ensure candidates are no threat to national security

Candidates deemed not patriotic enough to run in coming Hong Kong elections will be informed of the reasons behind their disqualification, the city’s No 2 official has said, pledging to ensure transparency in the mandatory vetting process.

Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu also suggested that opposition district councillors who might be unseated in an oath-taking process this month could still try for future polls, including the race for seats in the legislature, as their eligibility would be reassessed on every application.
Lee, also the newly appointed chairman of the powerful vetting committee established to ensure election candidates pose no threat to national security, said he would ensure sufficient transparency in the process.

“The public will know how many people have applied to run in the polls, and who are the remaining candidates after the vetting process. We will also notify candidates and the public on reasons for disqualifications,” Lee told a radio programme on Saturday.

A Yau Tsim Mong District Council meeting in progress. The opposition bloc is facing a cull of its members in these municipal-level bodies under a new oath-taking rule. Photo: Felix Wong

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday appointed four officials and three pro-Beijing figures as members of the vetting committee – created as part of a drastic overhaul of the city’s electoral system – to screen out candidates deemed “unpatriotic” or a threat to national security. Key political events on the horizon include polls for the next chief executive, the Election Committee and the Legislative Council.

“We have to make sure that all candidates pledge loyalty to the Basic Law and Hong Kong government,” Lee said, adding that, if necessary, the committee would take advice from police’s National Security Department, as well as a commission led by Lam and supervised by Beijing.

Carrie Lam urged to spell out process for unseating opposition politicians

Asked if those disqualified in the coming oath-taking ceremony for district councillors can still run for future elections, Lee said “the results will only apply to that particular time of screening”.

Government sources earlier revealed authorities had taken a hardline approach that would unseat nearly 230 opposition district councillors this month under a new oath-taking rule.

The move, carried out under a new law aimed at removing “unpatriotic” office-holders, will also require those disqualified to return about HK$1 million (US$29,000) in salary and other funds received since taking up their posts, according to sources.

A year under the national security law: arrests, sanctions, and a swifter Legco

News of the coming cull prompted more than 160 opposition councillors to resign since Wednesday night.

Lee stopped short of confirming whether nearly two-thirds of the opposition camp would be disqualified, but suggested even without the district councils, the government would still be able to gather public opinion through other channels.

“They can write emails or send letters to me, they can make use of other district platforms, or even the media can help gather public opinion,” he said.

He added the current law made clear that promoting Hong Kong independence, calling for foreign sanctions, and not recognising the central government’s sovereignty over Hong Kong, would lead to disqualification.

“Any behaviour deemed to be insincere in pledging allegiance will be taken into account, including past actions. Candidates can seek an appeal if they are not satisfied with the results,” he added.

Newly appointed as the city’s No 2 official, Lee said during his term, he would try to rebuild trust, correct moral values and set things right in society, including ramping up communication with the younger generation.

“Our society was filled with misconceptions, including achieving justice through illegal means, solving problems with violence ... I believe that the government’s publicity work in the past has failed to meet expectations.

“We have to set things right, and there may be changes during the process. The emphasis is to correct social consciousness,” he said.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: John Lee promises No 2 official pledges transparency in vetting candidates
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