Our selection of the previous week’s most politically charged and controversial soundbites.
“A candidate must submit during the nomination period a nomination form including a declaration stating that he/she will uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, otherwise, he/she will not be validly nominated as a candidate. A candidate must sign the declaration in the nomination form as part of the statutory procedure for nomination…Anyone making a false declaration in the nomination form is liable to criminal sanction,” – Electoral Affairs Commission
All Legco election candidates are required to sign a legally binding form declaring himself or herself to uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) stated on 14 July. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam Chi-yuen (譚志源) denied that EAC’s statement is politically driven and the eligibility of a candidate would ultimately be determined by the Returning Officers of EAC. Lawmaker Alan Leong Ka-kit (梁家傑) challenged the legality of the declaration form. Pro-independence candidate Edward Leung Tin-kei (梁天琦) of Hong Kong Indigenous said he might sign the form while keeping promoting Hong Kong independence.
“I would not comment the assessment as I think it is personal for Ms Li. It is not an appointment, so it is no need for CE to make the appointment. It is my own judgement and my decision.” – Independent Commission Against Corruption Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu
The acting capacity of head of the operations department Rebecca Li Bo-lan (李寶蘭) was removed in an abrupt shake-up within the ICAC. Commissioner Peh Yun-lu (白韞六) on 11 July explained that the decision was made as Li failed to meet the job requirements – without explaining what they are – and stressed that it was his own decision. Concerns were raised as to whether Li’s removal had anything to do with an investigation over Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (梁振英) receiving HK$50 million from UGL without proper declaration. Leung denied any involvement in the decision-making process. Principal Investigator Dale Ko (高迪龍), who was under Li in ICAC, later resigned.
“In light of a chaotic political situation [in Hong Kong], my prediction is that the Chief Executive will 100% be re-elected if the pro-Beijing camp does not perform well in the Legco elections in September.” – Cheung Chi-kong
Cheung Chi-kong (張志剛), the Executive Director of One Country Two Systems Research Institute, wrote in his column in Mingpao on 13 July, and argued that Beijing would definitely pick a hardline Chief Executive to govern Hong Kong if the anti-establishment camp will take advantage of their seats in the Legco to pursuit an “Anyone But CY” campaign.
