Hundreds oppose 'screening form' for DC polls

Activists say a new declaration form for district council election hopefuls would kill off the only genuine democratic elections in Hong Kong. Photo: RTHK

James Ockenden

Pro-democracy activists and politicians on Tuesday submitted hundreds of submissions against plans to make district council election candidates sign a new declaration form similar to one that has been linked to the disqualification of would-be legislators since 2016.



The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) has been consulting the public on a "Confirmation Form" for those hoping to stand in November's district council polls that would "assist the RO [returning officer] in the exercise of his/her statutory power to discharge his/her duties to ensure that the nomination procedure is completed in accordance with the law."



The EAC says the new form would be for election hopefuls to confirm they understand that their required pledge to uphold the Basic Law includes supporting the articles that say Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China, that the SAR comes directly under the central government, and that no changes to the Basic Law can contravene Beijing's basic policies regarding Hong Kong.



Pro-democracy legislator Chu Hoi-dick was barred from a village election last year after signing such a form, with the returning officer deciding that Chu supported the idea of self-determination for the Hong Kong people.



Demosisto's Agnes Chow and jailed localist Edward Leung, meanwhile, were both disqualified from Legco polls despite having signed similar declaration forms, and the convenor of the now-banned Hong Kong National Party, Chan Ho-tin, was rejected after refusing to sign one.



James Ockenden, who started an online petition opposing the proposed extension of this requirement to district council elections, said some 800 people had expressed their opposition to the move which "would harm democracy".



"The Legco confirmation form wasn't a smooth process, it's really caused a lot of problems. Now they've passed it from the Legco to the rural affairs, and now they're trying to get it into the district councils," Ockenden said.



"The district councils are the last little piece of real democracy we have in Hong Kong where the people genuinely decide, where anybody can stand, any Hongkonger can, in theory, stand for election and be selected. If we take that out, then we have really don't have any say in our city and in our future."



The EAC's consultation process is set to come to an end on Wednesday. The next district council elections will be held on November 24.