Despite landslide primary win, Hong Kong pro-democracy candidate’s next run up in the air over his last Legco oath

Constitutional affairs chief non-committal on Edward Yiu’s eligibility for March contest, prompting pan-democrats to hatch backup plan

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Pan-democrats Paul Zimmerman (left), Gary Fan, Agnes Chow and Edward Yiu in Admiralty on Monday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 9:15pm, 15 Jan 2018Updated: 10:59pm, 15 Jan 2018

A Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker disqualified over the oath-taking saga has won a landslide victory in the camp’s primary, but his chance of regaining a seat remains up in the air with officials non-committal on whether he could pass the allegiance test required for the upcoming by-elections.

Academic Edward Yiu Chung-yim, slated to run in the March contest for the Kowloon West constituency, said the primary’s better-than-expected turnout of more than 26,000 voters sent a clear signal to the government that Hongkongers did not back its bid last year to unseat popularly returned lawmakers.

“The people of Hong Kong support democracy and they would like to use their votes to tell the world that indeed they do not agree with the decisions by Beijing and Hong Kong ... to take away the seats of Legislative Councillors,” Yiu said on Monday, after beating his rivals Democrat Ramon Yuen Hoi-man and veteran politician Frederick Fung Kin-kee in the primary.

Not enough polling stations for surprise turnout at Hong Kong by-election primary, pro-democracy organisers say

Six Legco seats, including Yiu’s, were vacated last year after a local court ruled in favour of the government’s legal bid to unseat the lawmakers for improper oaths of office.

Four of the six seats are to be filled through the March 11 by-elections, while the fate of the remaining two is to be determined later on account of ongoing appeals.

But uncertainties loomed for Yiu’s bid as the government refused to offer a firm answer on whether the once disqualified lawmaker could secure a ticket to the race.

Fan, a NeoDemocrat, was described as facing a tough battle in March, while Yiu, an ousted lawmaker, might not be permitted to enter the March by-elections. Photo: Sam Tsang

“I would not comment on individual cases, but the returning officer will exercise his or her power in accordance with the relevant legislation when he or she receives the nomination,” constitutional affairs chief Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said.