Key Organiser Au Nok-hin Cuts Links With Primaries

Former lawmaker Au Nok-hin said he’s immediately ending his association with the pro-democracy camp’s primaries, citing allegations from Beijing that the exercise might violate the national security law.

Au had been one of the co-ordinators of the vote for the camp to decide which candidates to field in September’s Legco elections.

But in a statement published on Facebook on Wednesday, Au said he would withdraw from all duties related to the primary polls amid accusations from the liaison office and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office that the elections subverted state power and were therefore in breach of the national security law.

He said even though the pro-democracy camp has repeatedly stressed that the primary elections are legal, the authorities appear to think otherwise, and he could only take part in legal political activities.

He said that for the sake of his personal safety and the well-being of those around him, he had to end his involvement.

Despite a warning that the vote could violate the security law, more than 600,000 people cast their ballots last weekend.