Investor Presentaiton
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The establishment of the Candidate Eligibility Review
Committee to "screen out" candidates will diminish electors'
choices considerably. Also, it is stipulated that the Candidate
Eligibility Review Committee's decision made pursuant to the
opinion given by the Committee on National Security is not
subject to any judicial proceedings. People who are not allowed
to stand for election will then have no chance to appeal. Does
this violate the principle of fair and just opportunities to stand for
election?
First of all, it is the common practice of many countries in the world that people running
for public offices have to undergo an assessment which covers national security. It is
the most basic ethical and legal requirement for politicians. Under the existing electoral
system in Hong Kong, candidates are already required to confirm in writing to uphold
the Basic Law and swear allegiance to the HKSAR in accordance with the law.
Returning Officers will then decide whether the candidates meet the eligibility
requirement, including whether they are satisfied that the candidates genuinely uphold
the Basic Law and swear allegiance to the HKSAR.
The newly established Candidate Eligibility Review Committee will take over the
function from Returning Officers in determining candidates' eligibility in accordance
with the law, the purpose of which is to exclude anti-China and destabilising forces
from the governance structure of the HKSAR. It is the institutional safeguard of
implementing "patriots administering Hong Kong" and has nothing to do with
candidates' political stance or belief.
Article 14 of National Security Law stipulates that information relating to the work of
the Committee on National Security shall not be subject to disclosure, and decisions
made by the Committee shall not be amenable to judicial review. In this connection,
if the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee makes a decision based on the opinion
given by the Committee on National Security, by the same token its content
should not be subject to disclosure and the determination should not be subject
to any judicial proceedings.
Uphold One Country,
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