Council Poll Hopefuls Queried Over Protest Views

A number of pro-democracy figures who are hoping to run in next month's district council elections say they have been asked by returning officers to clarify their stance over issues relating to the ongoing anti-government protests.

Former student leader Tommy Cheung said he was asked to explain what he meant when he recently wrote and spoke about the protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times".

Cheung, who is hoping to stand in Yuen Long, posted a letter on Facebook that he had received from a returning officer seeking more information.

In response, he said by "liberate" he means return Hong Kong to a time when people enjoyed various freedoms, including running for office without political screening. He said he thinks "revolution" can refer to a major structural or ideological change.

The 2014 Occupy protests activist said even though he faces the possibility of being disqualified from the poll on November 24, he will not be deterred from making pro-democracy statements or taking part in anti-government protests.

Sha Tin district councillor Billy Chan – who is seeking re-election – said he has also been asked to explain what "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" means to him, after he shared a Facebook post which mentioned the rallying cry, first used by jailed localist Edward Leung.

Chan said the returning officer told him that his response to the inquiry will help determine whether his nomination for the poll will be validated.

Meanwhile, Demosisto leader Joshua Wong, who is hoping to run in Southern District, said he had been asked by the returning officer there whether he still supports the notion of self-determination for the Hong Kong people.

In response, he said he does want Hongkongers to have this right, but only after 2047, and under the constitutional framework of One Country, Two Systems.

He said he supports the idea of a non-binding referendum for people to decide Hong Kong's future, but he's against independence.

He also said he won't be standing in the election as a Demosisto member.

The issue of self-determination was cited as the reason for barring Demosisto's Agnes Chow from a Legco by-election last year, although last month she won a High Court appeal against the ban because she was not given an opportunity to defend herself.

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