Edward Leung Withdraws Poll Petition Over Ban

The High Court has approved an application from localism leader Edward Leung to withdraw his election petition against the authorities' decision to bar him from running in the 2016 Legislative Council elections.

A returning officer had rejected Leung's candidacy after deciding that the activist advocated Hong Kong independence, despite the fact that Leung had signed a declaration form with the election authorities acknowledging the city's status as an inalienable part of China.

In a brief hearing on Thursday, Leung's lawyer said the issue in his petition had been dealt with in another case, where the court confirmed the power of a returning officer to disqualify a candidate.

The lawyer added that even if Leung goes ahead with the petition, by the time there is a ruling, the next Legco poll will probably have been held.

The former Hong Kong Indigenous leader is serving a six-year prison term for taking part in the 2016 Mong Kok riots.