- Title: Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong's district election candidacy stalled
- Date: 24th October 2019
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (OCTOBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) HONG KONG PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST JOSHUA WONG ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE AND HOLDING POSTER READING (English and Chinese): "STOP POLITICAL SCREENING (FOR CANDIDACY SELECTION)" WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST JOSHUA WONG, SAYING: "Within the past seven days, Mrs. Ma didn't contact me at all, reply (to) my letter, or to make the decision to approve my candidacy or not, which just proves that Mrs. Ma faces the huge burden and political pressure, from Beijing, the Hong Kong government, and the international community." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST JOSHUA WONG, SAYING: "If she refuses to be the first to face such political pressure, it just results in the Hong Kong government deciding to find another one who seems ready to accept this political mission and political task and to decide my candidacy." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST JOSHUA WONG, SAYING: "If Mrs. Aron would like to send me any letter, of course I would love to reply to her, just like how I replied to Dorothy Ma. But it's just crystal clear, implying that how the election and rules and system in Hong Kong is still unfair and still manipulated by Beijing." NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING
- Embargoed: 7th November 2019 09:53
- Keywords: Hong Kong China district office election Joshua Wong
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2GFMMF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong said on Thursday (October 24) that his candidacy in the city's upcoming district elections has been delayed as a result of electoral commissions officers facing "political pressure".
Wong said that upon submitting his application for candidacy in early October, he was asked by district officer Dorothy Ma in a letter about his political stance, which he replied to. According to Wong, Ma has since fallen ill, and has been replaced by Laura Liang Aron.
"Within the past seven days, Mrs. Ma didn't contact me at all, reply (to) my letter, or to make the decision to approve my candidacy or not, which just proves that Mrs. Ma faces the huge burden and political pressure, from Beijing, the Hong Kong government, and the international community," Wong told media at an impromptu news conference.
Around 450 seats will be up for grab in Hong Kong's upcoming district elections in November.
Such votes have previously attracted little fanfare and been dominated by pro-Beijing candidates. But a summer of unrest has infused a newfound significance in the poll and prompted a record number of candidates and voters to register.
(Production: Chantha Lach, Joseph Campbell) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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