More candidates in Hong Kong refuse to swear allegiance to China

Demosisto president Nathan Law says he would not sign any confirmation, but would instead take legal action in favour of those excluded from the vote for refusing to sign.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – Demosisto, a group set up this year by student leaders involved in the 79 days of protests of 2014, has joined those who refuse to sign a statement now required by the government from candidates in Hong Kong’s upcoming September election that the city "is an inalienable part of mainland China."

The group's president, Nathan Law (pictured right), said not only that he did not want to sign, but that he plans to take legal action in favour of anyone excluded from the elections for refusing to sign.

Submitting his application for candidacy on Hong Kong Island, Law said, “I will not sign the confirmation form because I would not allow the Electoral Affairs Commission to impose such a term unlawfully.”

“If the commission bars any candidate from running because he or she did not sign the form, I will consider filing a judicial review,” he added.

Law or no law, at least 12 pro-democracy candidates have refused to sign the confirmation form, which they deem a form of political censorship.

People Power, the League of Social Democrats, Hong Kong Indigenous and the Kowloon East Community Concern Group announced that they would seek judicial review if a candidate was disqualified for this reason.

• hong kong
• china
• election
• democracy
• demosisto
• nathan law