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Joshua Wong
Hong KongLaw and Crime

Hong Kong opposition activist Joshua Wong loses legal bid to overturn district council elections ban

  • Wong was disqualified from running because the returning officer did not believe he had changed his stance on Hong Kong independence
  • He had asked High Court to rule that he had fulfilled all requirements to run in November polls last year

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Joshua Wong speaks to reporters after his application for a judicial review of his banning from last year’s district council elections was rejected. Photo: Sam Tsang
Brian Wong
A Hong Kong court has thrown out a legal bid by opposition activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung to overturn a ban on his candidacy for municipal-level polls last year.
The High Court on Wednesday dismissed Wong’s application for a judicial review of his disqualification from last year’s district council elections. He was the sole hopeful barred for political reasons after the vetting officer deemed he still advocated the city’s independence.

In a 22-page judgment, Mr Justice Anderson Chow Ka-ming said Wong had picked the wrong legal tool to advance his arguments, stressing the city’s electoral laws only permitted challenges against a candidates’ disqualification by way of an election petition.

Wong expressed disappointment with the ruling, saying he believed it reflected the conservative leanings of Hong Kong’s judges.

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Joshua Wong reacts to his disqualification from running in upcoming Hong Kong elections

Joshua Wong reacts to his disqualification from running in upcoming Hong Kong elections

“An election petition, first and foremost, cannot settle disputes arising from returning officers’ abuse of their powers,” Wong said. “If [an application for] judicial review is not permitted, does that mean the present judicial regime turns a blind eye to returning officers abusing their immense powers? I am very concerned this would be the case.”

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