Valid questions over the broadened vetting of political aspirants
- With the screening of electoral hopefuls widening from their political beliefs to their campaign slogans, the process must not just be consistent, but also able to withstand legal challenge
Standing in Hong Kong elections used to be simple and straightforward. Candidates usually only need to secure sufficient nominations from electors and place the specified amount of money as a deposit when signing up for the Legislative Council and District Council polls. The arrangement had been serving the city well until recent years, when the government saw the need to shut out people who do not uphold the city being part of China under the Basic Law.
Such screening is far from simple and straightforward, though. The latest controversy saw the vetting of nominations broadening from aspirants’ political beliefs to their campaign slogans. While one pan-democrat canvassing with the anti-extradition bill protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” was allowed to stand without questions asked, others using the same slogan were asked to explain the meaning. The returning officers were apparently concerned whether the slogan amounted to advocating for the city’s independence.
Separately, the candidacy of pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung is still in the balance. His case has been taken by another returning officer, after the original one took indefinite sick leave amid growing speculation. Earlier, a former member of Wong’s Demosisto group was allowed to run without questions asked. The apparent inconsistency has raised valid questions over the benchmarks used.
This is not the first time the vetting of candidacy has come under public scrutiny. The rule is still being challenged in a court case related to a Legislative Council by-election. While the judge has again confirmed that a returning officer can reject a candidate if there is “cogent, clear and compelling” evidence that he or she is not genuine when signing a declaration to uphold the Basic Law, the candidate concerned still needs to be given a chance to explain.
It appears that the government will continue to bar pro-independence figures from getting into the establishment. But the process must not just be consistent, it also must be able to withstand legal challenge. The government should study all the relevant issues closely and make sure this will be the case.
It is regrettable that the electoral briefing session for candidates on Thursday evening had to be called off, after Wong and others made use of the occasion to protest against the screening. With the social unrest still gripping the city and the ballot just a month away, the chaos does not bode well for a smooth electoral process. Under the government’s contingency plan, a crisis management committee is to advise the Electoral Affairs Commission on whether the polls are safe enough to go ahead. All sides must do their best to ensure the upcoming elections can be held in a fair, open and safe manner.