China News Service, July 30. According to the press release of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government stated on the 30th that it recognizes and supports the Returning Officer's decision to invalidate the nomination of 12 nominees for this year's Legislative Council general election. The SAR government has noted that the Returning Officer clearly stated in his rationale that when deciding whether the nominated person’s nomination is valid, the core issue is whether he/she meets the relevant declaration requirements of the Legislative Council Ordinance, that is, upholds the Basic Law and guarantees Allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
According to Article 40(1)(b)(i) of the Hong Kong Legislative Council Ordinance, candidates for election to the Legislative Council must sign a declaration on the nomination form in accordance with the statutory nomination procedure, expressing their clear support for the Basic Law and pledge of allegiance to the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong Special administrative region.
The Returning Officer pointed out that, referring to the judgment of the Court of First Instance of the Special Administrative Region in the case of Chen Haotian, the intention to uphold the Basic Law under the declaration requirements of Article 40(1)(b)(i) is not just to comply with the Basic Law, but more importantly. Support, promote and believe in the Basic Law.
The SAR government reiterated that it is the basic constitutional responsibility of legislators to support the Basic Law. To support Hong Kong’s independence, to use democratic self-determination or to support Hong Kong’s independence as a future option for self-determination to deal with the Hong Kong system; to seek foreign governments or political organizations to interfere in matters related to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; in principle, to oppose the National People’s Congress Standing Committee’s formulation of the "Hong Kong The Special Administrative Region’s National Security Law and its inclusion in Annex III of the Basic Law and promulgated and implemented in Hong Kong; stated its intention to exercise the power of legislators to veto any government’s legislative proposals without discrimination after ensuring that the Legislative Council has a majority. Appointments, appropriation applications and budget proposals to force the government to accept certain political demands; and those who refuse to recognize the People’s Republic of China’s sovereignty over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the constitutional status of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as a local administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. , It is impossible to sincerely support the Basic Law, so it is impossible to perform the duties of a member of the Legislative Council.
The SAR government pointed out that the 12 nominees did not comply with the provisions of the Legislative Council Ordinance and the Returning Officer decided that their nomination was invalid. The Returning Officer is still reviewing whether the nominations of other nominees are valid. It does not rule out that some of the nominees are still invalidated by the Returning Officer. The Returning Officer’s decision aims to enable the election to be conducted in an open, fair, and honest manner in compliance with the Basic Law and other applicable laws. It has nothing to do with political censorship, restrictions on freedom of speech, or deprivation of the right to stand for elections alleged by some members of the public. The SAR government fully supports the Returning Officer to perform statutory functions in accordance with the law; it will not tolerate any humiliation or intimidation against the Returning Officer. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, the police and other law enforcement agencies will follow up the malicious acts.
The SAR government respects and safeguards the rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law, including the right to vote and stand for election. It is also responsible for implementing and maintaining the Basic Law and ensuring that all elections are conducted in compliance with the Basic Law and relevant electoral laws.