HONG KONG - The Hong Kong government said on Thursday that 12 opposition candidates in an upcoming election for seats in the city’s legislature have been disqualified and that more could face a similar decision in the near term. 

Joshua Wong Chi-fung, Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai, Fergus Leung, Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam, Ventus Lau Wing-hong, Alvin Cheng Kam-mun, Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, Kwok Ka-ki, Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, Cheng Tat-hung and Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong were disqualified by returning officers since their nominations were not in compliance with necessary requirements under the Legislative Council Ordinance. 

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There was “no question of any political censorship, restriction of the freedom of speech or deprivation of the right to stand for elections as alleged by some members of the community,” the government said in a statement

The returning officers are required to assess whether a nominee has complied with a declaration requirement under the Legislative Council Ordinance to "uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the HKSAR of the People's Republic of China" and the 12 candidates were found wanting.

The government said advocating self-determination, soliciting intervention by foreign governments, or “expressing an objection in principle” to the new National Security Law were behaviours that “could not genuinely” uphold the Basic Law. 

However, there was “no question of any political censorship, restriction of the freedom of speech or deprivation of the right to stand for elections as alleged by some members of the community,” the government said in a statement. 

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The HK government said it fully supported returning officers in the discharge of statutory duties in accordance with the laws and any insults and threats targeting returning officers will not be tolerated.