- Title: Democracy activist Joshua Wong launches bid for Hong Kong legislature
- Date: 20th July 2020
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (JULY 20, 2020) (REUTERS) DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST JOSHUA WONG ARRIVING AT THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING WHERE THE KOWLOON EAST CONSTITUENCY RETURNING OFFICER IS BASED VARIOUS OF WONG HOLDING THE APPLICATION FOR REGISTERING AS A CANDIDATE MEDIA WONG SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST JOSHUA WONG, SAYING: "I (hereby) announce I will run for office in the 2020 Legislative Council election in Hong Kong. Our voice is our vote, and we hope to let the world know how we choose (not to) surrender. How we choose not to kowtow to China." WONG SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST JOSHUA WONG, SAYING: "Under the chilling effect generated by Beijing, someone might doubt that - will Hongkongers give up. But I believe when I choose to run for office, it's time to put the global spotlight (on) Hong Kong's election. We aim and wish to take (the) majority in Hong Kong's Legislative Council election to prove we are the majority, and the voice of the pro-democracy camp, especially the progressive wing, our voice must not be silenced." WONG SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST JOSHUA WONG, SAYING: "With the threat of being extradited to China, with the uncertainty to (be) sent to black jails in Beijing, with the possibility (of) facing life sentencing, today is the third week of (the) implementation of the national security law. I still hope to run for office, and receive the people's mandate, and let the world know that we will continue our fight until our last breath." WONG DEPARTING THE PRESS AREA AND ENTERING THE BUILDING TO HAND IN HIS FORM
- Embargoed: 3rd August 2020 08:09
- Keywords: Activists Beijing China Elections Hong Kong Human rights National security law
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Fundamental Rights/Civil Liberties,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001CNM3UPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Prominent Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong applied on Monday (July 20) to run for a seat in the Chinese-ruled city's legislature, raising the prospect of a battle with authorities after being barred from running in previous polls.
Wong is one of more than a dozen young, more confrontational politicians who outshone old guard democrats in unofficial opposition primaries this month in what many saw as a protest vote against a national security law imposed by Beijing.
The Sept. 6 vote will see the democratic opposition try to reclaim some political influence in a city assembly stacked with Beijing loyalists. Only half its seats are directly elected. Political analysts and democracy activists expect authorities will try to disqualify some candidates.
Beijing says the primaries were illegal and may have violated the security law, which punishes what China broadly defines as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison. "With the possibility of facing a life sentence ... I still hope to receive people's mandate and let the world know that we will continue to fight until our last breath," Wong, who sees himself as a prime target of the new law, told reporters.
Wong, who was 17 when he became the face of the 2014 student-led Umbrella Movement protests, has not been a leading figure of the often-violent protests that shook the semi-autonomous financial hub last year. However, he has drummed up support for the pro-democracy movement abroad, meeting politicians from the United States, Europe and elsewhere, drawing the wrath of Beijing, which says he is a "black hand" of foreign forces.
(Production: Aleksander Solum) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None