National security law could be used to disqualify pro-democracy election candidates en masse, says political scientist
蘋果日報 2020/06/21 09:02
The looming national security law to be imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing could be used as a political tool to disqualify pro-democracy candidates from running in the upcoming Legislative Council elections, according to political scientist Ivan Choy.
Choy told Apple Daily that he believed Beijing wanted the law to be passed quickly so it could be used ahead of the election nomination period between July 18 and 31. He said pro-democracy candidates may be barred from running in the elections using the national security law, accusing them of colluding with foreign forces, advocating for Hong Kong independence or self-determination.
Beijing issued an explanation for the new law on Saturday evening, revealing some details for the piece of legislation but stopping short of publishing the entire draft. The legislation is expected to be finalized by the end of June or in July.
Choy predicted the number of election disqualifications to rise sharply compared to last year’s District Council election where Demosisto Secretary-General Joshua Wong was barred from running. He said people may hesitate to vote for candidates they were unfamiliar with, if well-known candidates were to be disqualified. But Choy also said voters may be angered by the upcoming national security law and rally together to vote for the pan-democrats.
Former student leader Joshua Wong said even though candidates had already been disqualified before the enactment of the national security law, the risk of disqualification was now even higher.
The pro-democracy camp is conducting a primary race for candidates, to determine who should run in the September 6 elections. Wong, who is participating in the primary for the Kowloon East geographical constituency, said he was unsure if there would even be an election in September.
He urged supporters of the pro-democracy camp to vote in the primary in July in order to display a “tsunami of opposition” against Beijing. “The national security law is like a knife above our heads in order to stop us from voting, but we will still vote,” he said.
He added that the U.S. and the European Union have expressed concerns over the situation in Hong Kong, and he believed that the countries will make relevant responses after seeing Hong Kongers’ participation in the primary.
Choy told Apple Daily that he believed Beijing wanted the law to be passed quickly so it could be used ahead of the election nomination period between July 18 and 31. He said pro-democracy candidates may be barred from running in the elections using the national security law, accusing them of colluding with foreign forces, advocating for Hong Kong independence or self-determination.
Beijing issued an explanation for the new law on Saturday evening, revealing some details for the piece of legislation but stopping short of publishing the entire draft. The legislation is expected to be finalized by the end of June or in July.
Choy predicted the number of election disqualifications to rise sharply compared to last year’s District Council election where Demosisto Secretary-General Joshua Wong was barred from running. He said people may hesitate to vote for candidates they were unfamiliar with, if well-known candidates were to be disqualified. But Choy also said voters may be angered by the upcoming national security law and rally together to vote for the pan-democrats.
Former student leader Joshua Wong said even though candidates had already been disqualified before the enactment of the national security law, the risk of disqualification was now even higher.
The pro-democracy camp is conducting a primary race for candidates, to determine who should run in the September 6 elections. Wong, who is participating in the primary for the Kowloon East geographical constituency, said he was unsure if there would even be an election in September.
He urged supporters of the pro-democracy camp to vote in the primary in July in order to display a “tsunami of opposition” against Beijing. “The national security law is like a knife above our heads in order to stop us from voting, but we will still vote,” he said.
He added that the U.S. and the European Union have expressed concerns over the situation in Hong Kong, and he believed that the countries will make relevant responses after seeing Hong Kongers’ participation in the primary.
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political scientist Ivan Choy