The proposed cabinet of the University of Hong Kong Student Union has sparked controversy owing to their pro-Beijing political stance.
The three-person team, called “Prism,” told a public consultation with students on Monday that they had no political affiliation. Prism is the only cabinet running for office at the union. Another candidate is running for a separate general secretary position.
The trio were interviewed by the university’s campus television show. Andrew Cheng Chun-hei, the proposed president, said in the interview published on Saturday that he believed in Hong Kong’s rule of law.
“About the disqualification of some lawmakers, we are willing to believe that the whole judicial process was fair, and that there is enough evidence to support the judgment,” Cheng said.
Cheng said that he believed debate on Hong Kong independence was permissible, but that independence itself was not the best option for Hong Kong at the moment. Other issues, such as student suicide, high property prices and the lack of technological innovation should be addressed first.
Asked whether they agreed with the government’s decision to ban the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party, Cheng said it was a decision made under Hong Kong’s comprehensive judicial system” “We do not have many questions or opposition,” Cheng said.
Commenting on Beijing’s power to interpret the Basic Law, Cheng said the law could be modified and improved upon.
“It is the same for how National People’s Congress interprets the law. I believe the main point is that we hope that after laws are changed, they could receive support from more and more Hong Kong people, then we will believe that it is a good, new interpretation of the law,” Cheng said.
Asked to give their views on the Mong Kok clashes of 2016, Cheng claimed that many media outlets had reported that criminals and triad members had interfered in the incident.
“Therefore, were the protesters in the Mong Kok unrest truly residents who only wished to express their views?” he said.
Cheng said he would not comment too much on the looming national anthem law, or any potential national security law.
‘Equal consideration’
In a statement issued on Sunday night, the proposed cabinet said that when speaking on behalf of the student union, they should not propagate their own personal views, but rather those of the majority of students.
“We believe possessing a certain political stance should not be the criteria for – or be a reason to – preclude anyone from joining the HKUSU. Anyone who has the will the serve their fellow students should be given equal consideration, as are those who do not have a particular political stance,” it said.
“We must express our regret towards a vocal minority who may have misinterpreted our words and unfairly affiliated us with a particular party or movement.”
Althea Suen, a former president of the HKU Student Union, said the proposed cabinet were living in a “parallel universe.”
“We are not reading [pro-Beijing media] Speakout HK, these [comments] were said by the proposed cabinet,” she said. “I am angry and sad.”
Former lawmaker Nathan Law, one of the disqualified lawmakers, said students must defend the student union.
“This proposed cabinet will not question the decision to ban the Hong Kong National Party, it believes the disqualification of lawmakers is reasonable, it supports interpretations by the National People’s Congress, it has no stance over the national anthem law and the national security law. What is the difference between them and the pro-Beijing camp?” he said.
