Joshua Wong Questioned Again By New Election Officer

Demosisto leader Joshua Wong says he's been given a third round of questions on his political stance as he seeks confirmation of his candidacy for next month's district council elections.

Wong, who hopes to fight the South Horizons West seat on Southern District Council, is the only hopeful whose candidacy has not yet been approved. The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) said on Thursday that the elections officer in Southern District, Dorothy Ma, had taken sick leave.

Wong said in a social media post that Ma's replacement, Yau Tsim Mong district officer, Laura Aron, had sent him a letter asking him to clarify answers he gave in correspondence with the previous returning officer, as well as comments attributed to him in a newspaper article.

Wong questioned whether the returning officer was delaying her decision because the SAR and central governments had yet to agree on whether to allow him to run. A final decision must be made by Thursday, when the final list of candidates is published.

Several pro-democracy candidates were asked about their stance on Hong Kong independence and self determination, but all have been allowed to proceed.

Previously candidates in Legislative Council elections, including Wong's party colleague Agnes Chow, have had their candidacies ruled out because returning officers deemed their views to be incompatible with the Basic Law.

More than 1,000 candidates will contest seats at the district council elections, which take place on November 24. The other candidates in South Horizons West are the New People's Party's Judy Chan and pan-democrat Kelvin Lam.