Chief executive contender Woo Kwok-hing urges criminalisation of ‘meddling’ in Hong Kong affairs

Potential candidate cites Basic Law article stating that Beijing and regional governments are not allowed to interfere in city’s internal affairs

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Chief executive candidate Woo Kwok-hing wants meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs criminalised. Photo: David Wong

Published: 5:52pm, 5 Feb 2017Updated: 10:32pm, 5 Feb 2017

Hong Kong chief executive contender Woo Kwok-hing has proposed making a law to ban “meddling” by mainland Chinese authorities in the city’s internal affairs, warning that the public perception about interference would undermine the city’s political, social and economic progress.

The retired judge and underdog in the race made the proposal part of his manifesto on Sunday as he unveiled an updated version of the platform he rolled out in December.

The latest platform also includes Woo’s policy proposals on labour, culture, art and sports issues, as well as the rights of women, children and ethnic minorities.

Article 22 of the city’s Basic Law states: “No department of the Central People’s Government and no [regional authorities] ... under the Central Government may interfere in the affairs which the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region administers on its own.”

In recent years, critics have accused Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong of meddling with the city’s elections. Pro-establishment lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun also complained last month that the chief executive election had “lost its shape” due to interference by “an invisible hand” – an apparent reference to mainland authorities.

Woo first proposed last month that interference in Hong Kong’s internal affairs should be made a criminal offence.