Parliament election: Hong Kong includes members of the opposition

The Chinese party functionary showed deep concern. Imagine that the Opposition in Hong Kong would win in the parliamentary elections in September, the majority, and thus a means to get the Central government in Beijing under pressure. That was "a danger to the stability of the country," said the man in the Foyer of the Kempinski Hotels in Beijing.

Friederike Böge

Political correspondent for East Asia.

The objection, that "stability" was reached most likely, if the Central government is the question, as he had a majority of Hong Kong voters for and your could win a Governor in the local Parliament, to bounce off. The conversation took place on the 20. The end of may. As the party cadres, what's knew at the time, only Insiders knew that the national people's Congress would bring the next day, the "security law" to Hong Kong on the way.

to prevent From the beginning, there was the suspicion that the law should also serve the purpose of a possible election victory of the Opposition. Beijing's critics were on Thursday confirmed: Twelve leading candidate of the Pro-democracy camp were excluded, referring to the "security law" of the election. The Hong Kong government did not exclude also that it will be any more Disqualifications.

In the justification of the election authority in writing, it means that some applicants had not demonstrated to the satisfaction that you supported the "security law". The legal Trick behind it: As a prerequisite for candidacy is a commitment to the Hong Kong basic law applies. In the Appendix to the "safety act" has been included.

China's leadership openly challenged

Some of the rejected candidates had challenged the Chinese leadership in the protests in the past year. Including Joshua Wong, who was also been barred from previous elections. Less expected was that it also met the four current members of Parliament, the rates of the mode spectrum of the Pro-democracy camp are to be attributed. Among them, the head of the Civic Party, Alvin Yeung, and his party colleague, Mr Dennis Kwok, of the house of representatives by Filibustern week long lame.

The electoral authority said the two politicians that they had acted with their support for American's China sanctions against the "security law". Yeung and Kwok had sent their letters to the American Senate, however, before the entry into force of the law, which is why you can't be prosecuted for it criminally. The election authority argued that it nevertheless, conclusions as to their Suitability for the office of a member of Parliament can be drawn.