Pro-Beijing district councillor Wong Kwok-hing has said he failed to submit an election petition to disqualify pro-democracy lawmaker Au Nok-hin before the deadline.
Wong has criticised Au for burning a mock-up of the Basic Law, saying that Au was an independence advocate and should be barred from running. Au has denied advocating independence.
In March, Wong helped a businessman file a judicial review against Au, but High Court judge Anderson Chow said it was not the appropriate legal means to contest Au’s candidacy and rejected the bid.
Wong said he put in a lot of effort to prepare for an election petition afterwards, but could not resolve difficulties in filing the petition before the deadline on Wednesday. He did not specify what the difficulties were.
Wong said it was a failure of his: “I am utterly disappointed.”
“It is disappointing that the government is still being stubborn over its mistake, and refuses to apologise and review [Au’s eligibility to run],” he said.
He said it was the government’s fault that an independence advocate entered the legislature.
In response, Au shared Wong’s video on social media with hashtags poking fun at the district councillor. “Silly through and through; the wicked always lose,” he wrote.
Au was widely considered the substitute candidate for Demosisto’s Agnes Chow, who was barred from running in the March by-election.
Chow has filed an election petition challenging an election officer’s decision to bar her. If she wins, a re-election may be ordered. Au said he respected Chow’s decision to challenge the decision.
