Personal attacks against returning officers seeking additional information from opposition Legislative Council hopefuls have drawn condemnation from the government, local experts, and residents.
Remarks against those officers were seen on social media platforms after their personal information was revealed by some opposition candidates. Earlier, the officers had requested that the candidates clarify past public statements they had made, in order to determine their allegiance to the special administrative region — a requirement to qualify as a candidate for public office.
Willy Fu Kin-chi, a law professor at Beijing Jiaotong University, said the remarks against the returning officers may involve criminal intimidation and violate the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.
Several opposition candidates have posted on social media platforms the names and photos of the returning officers who sent them requests for information.
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Some opposition candidates attacked the returning officers out of resentment, as they foresaw the consequence of being disqualified, considering their previous acts
Lau Siu-kai, Vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies
Opposition politician Nathan Law Kwun-chung told all returning officers that their decisions are watched by foreign nations, implying their moves may trigger a diplomatic crisis. Law left Hong Kong for London after the National Security Law was enacted, and while there has met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Some people who commented on opposition candidates’ online posts also expressed the hope that the officers could be sanctioned by foreign nations.
Fu said Law’s remarks are threatening, and could be seen as pressuring the officers not to disqualify the candidates. He said such acts are “despicable and shameful”.
To thwart their attempt, he hopes the returning officers will strictly handle the vetting of nominees and seek police help if they feel any threat to themselves or their families.
Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said it is necessary to create a fair and undisturbed environment for the returning officers to verify the candidates’ eligibility.
He said some opposition candidates attacked the returning officers out of resentment, as they foresaw the consequence of being disqualified, considering their previous acts. He urged the SAR government and police force to strictly follow cases concerning criminal intimidation.
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In a statement on Monday, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, which oversees the SAR’s implementation of the Basic Law, including election procedures, pledged to refer these malicious acts against returning officers to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data and police for follow-up.
“The Returning Officers should not be attacked by any unreasonable and threatening remarks when executing their statutory duties in accordance with the laws,” the statement said.
Dickson Lam, a local resident in his 50s, urged the SAR government and officials to resist pressure and complete a fair and just election. The opposition, he said, has always been cunning and will do whatever it takes to get elected or achieve their political goal.
“We Hong Kong people don’t have much power to stop them,” said Lam. He said he hopes those with ulterior motives will be rejected according to the law, so that Hong Kong residents can elect those who truly serve the interests of people in the election.
