Pan-dems Plan Primaries Amid Disqualification Fears

Members of the pro-democracy camp have announced their plans for primary polls next month for what they fear will be the last ever "meaningful" Legislative Council elections.

The contests to choose the camp's candidates for the September 6 elections are to be held on July 11 and July 12.

While the pan-dems are hoping to take 35 or more of the council's 70 seats, they say the new national security law could pose a serious challenge to them.

"We don't know the content of the law yet ... It may authorise the authorities to disqualify on any grounds and it's likely that the candidates from the democratic camp will be disqualified," said Occupy Central founder Benny Tai, who's one of the organisers of the primaries.

But at a press conference on Tuesday, Tai added that they want to give Hongkongers a chance to show their determination for democracy.

He said eligible voters will be asked to take part in the primaries via their smartphone or paper ballots at stations to be set up across the city, with the results out on July 13.

Tai said the primaries will cover the five geographical constituencies, the so-called superseats, and the health services sector seat, and the result will be binding on those taking part.

The only major opposition group deciding not to take part in the primaries is Civic Passion, which likes to distance itself from the traditional pan-democrats.

Tai said the team for each list will decide who should be the back-up candidate in case the winner of a primary is disqualified from the Legco polls.