Hong Kong elections: at least nine opposition camp members seeking legislative seats pressed over security law views and loyalty to city
- Letters sent by officials vetting candidates for September polls ask about lobbying US for sanctions
- Election hopefuls also requested to explain previous statements about plans to veto budget
Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu and member Dennis Kwok were among election hopefuls who received letters on Saturday from officials at the district level responsible for vetting candidates’ applications.
Yeung and Kwok were asked about their earlier visit to the United States to lobby for the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was passed last year amid anti-government protests. It allows for economic and diplomatic sanctions against the financial hub and officials deemed to have undermined the high degree of autonomy the city enjoys from mainland China.
Do you still continue to request the United States to implement the relevant sanctions against [Hong Kong]
“Do you still continue to request the United States to implement the relevant sanctions against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region?” the officials wrote to the pair. “Do you have the intention to request other foreign countries push ahead with similar laws?”
It continued: “Your request … was actually to lend force from foreign governments to exert pressure on the Hong Kong government, and allow foreign forces to interfere in the internal affairs of the HKSAR. How do such acts match with the substantial requirement of upholding the Basic Law and pledging allegiance to the HKSAR as you have signed in the nomination form?”