Disqualification of HK candidacy backed

A spokesman for the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said on Wednesday it was reasonable and lawful to disqualify Joshua Wong, whom he called a leader of a political group advocating "Hong Kong independence", from running in the upcoming District Council election.

An electoral officer in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ruled on Tuesday that Wong's nomination for the South Horizons West constituency of the Southern District Council was invalid. The District Council elections will be on Nov 24.

That ruling is based on sufficient facts and sound legal grounds, and it adheres to the "one country, two systems" principle and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, said Yang Guang, a spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office.