Hong Kong elections: activist Joshua Wong says allegations used to disqualify him from polls ‘fabricated’, could have darker purpose

Wong, who on Thursday was barred from running for the Legco elections, says accusations against him could be seen as national security law violations

‘If the slanderous operation of the government is tolerated and not refuted, I believe I will be given no chance of defence when I’m arrested,’ he argues

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Hong Kong opposition activist Joshua Wong met with reporters on Friday to discuss his disqualification from the city’s Legislative Council elections. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 4:54pm, 31 Jul 2020Updated: 12:36am, 1 Aug 2020

Activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung has accused an electoral official of fabricating allegations against him that could be labelled offences under the sweeping national security law, warning that dissidents face not only disqualification from the Legislative Council elections but possible arrest.

Wong held a press conference a day after he, alongside 11 other opposition election hopefuls, including incumbent lawmakers, were barred from running in the next polls.

The returning officers’ decision came two days after Hong Kong police’s national security department arrested four student members of a pro-independence group, including former Studentlocalism leader Tony Chung Hon-lam for allegedly inciting secession.

They were released on bail on Friday afternoon and barred from leaving the city for six months.

Returning officer Alice Choi’s ruling on Wong cited previous statements issued by the party he founded, the now-defunct Demosisto, and previous remarks the activist himself had made.