Legislator Eddy Chu Hoi Dick speaks to the public and the media in front of the legislative Council after being disqualified from the residents representative election.
I have a few words that I want to say and then I will take your questions.
First of all I hope that all Hong Kong citizens remember that I have been holding a consistent political standpoint since 2016. That is – Hong Kong people has been denied by Beijing our rights to duo universal suffrages.
And we need to review how the current political system controls our political rights under Beijing’s influence.
For example, Beijing has been constraining the political rights of Hong Kongers with Basic Law article 158 and 159. I hope we could turn a new page for the Hong Kong democratic movement with this heart to change, this heart to witness.
This political stand, if you ever paid attention to the Election Officer’s reply, is confirmed consistent since 2016. Now, what’s the problem? The ones who have been shifting the goalpost is not me, but the SAR gov and the Chinese Liaison Office and Beijing behind.
I was admitted as a candidate running for Legislative Council and got elected in 2016. I took my oath to become a legislator in front of all the Hong Kong citizens in Oct 2016. Even in the following SCNPC’s Interpretation of Basic Law article 104, my oath and my political standpoint were never challenged by the SAR government.
A office-holding-legislator, carrying his political platform that he promised Hong Kongers since 2016 is bar from a district resident representative election (I lived in Yuen Gong San Tsuen for 6 years) due to the goalpost being moved!
Please take notice of the reason being cited are 「suspected」, or that my reply 「implied」… If the Election Officer cannot even say it proud and loud that I am confirmed to be NOT upholding Basic Law, then they owe the Hong Kong citizens an explanation. Since when, and how, can a bar of political censorship be in place without any public consultation or legislative procedures?
Other than that, I’d like to notify the citizens to stay alert, of the hidden logic of 「Everyone is a police of thoughts」 in the style of Cultural Revolution, as conveyed via the letter by the Election Officer.
What does that mean? Is means that in Hong Kong, one is not only forbidden from advocating Hong Kong Independence, but also from not prohibiting the other advocates, even if you clearly state that you do not agree with such thought. Or else, your political rights will be stripped. This is against the Basic Law! I can in no way strip others of their freedom of speech just because I want to run for office. I can in no way prohibit someone or object someone who merely holds a sign that says 「Hong Kong Independence」 in certain assembly. Why would I object them? Peaceful advocacy of Hong Kong Independence, to my understanding, is definitely within the protection of freedom of speech under Basic Law.
In fact, this trend of 「Everyone is a police of thought」 mentality of the government is seen beyond my case. The National Anthem Legislation is of the same logic. In the current National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance, one must be proven actively damage the national flag to be found guilty. But in the national song legislation, one is required to salute. There is a gradual transformation from not actively damage something to actively make a statement.
Take my case as an example, I am not only required to actively make a statement, I’m even expected to actively object the rights of the other. In the process of answering the enquiries from the Election Officer, I cited the case of law interpretation of Basic Law article 104 and Andy Chan Ho-tin’s election petition. I challenged the election officer’s right to enforce a political censor. Until now the reply from the election officer did not touch on my challenges, not a bit. I will consult my legal team as to whether seek legal judgement concerning this unreasonable, bullying, Basic Law-violating political decision.
Finally, due to this unreasonable disqualification, I am unable to run for the resident representative election. I am unable to improve rural village management with the villagers of Yuen Gong San Tsuen. Neither am I able to advocate a reform of village council system through election alongside my friends from Village Charter 2018. My apologies to the villagers and my friends from Village Charter 2018. I might not be fighting this battle on the position as a candidate, yet I shall continue my service to voters, and my advocacy for reformation. I will also propose different reforms to the existing rural representative system in the legislative council.
You must be asking, what about my future? Is this an end to my political life? I want to address the public and my allies from the democrats – that entering the legislative council is an important part of democratic movement, but not the only part. I have well spend my time on this path, and I will seek different positions to fight alongside with you-primarily of course in the position of legislative council. I will contribute my efforts in different places for the future of Hong Kong. I hope you can be like me, don’t give up this place, don’t give up all the possibilities of entering the structure. We must seize every chance to wrestle with the authoritative government. We will only get glimpse of victory when we are united.
Now I will take your questions.//
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