Activist cautions of consequences for rejecting poll candidacy

Former Demosisto leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung said today that "Beijing officials" will have to consider his candidacy for Legco as a matter of geo-politics and foreign diplomacy, as he submitted his nomination to run in Kowloon East, RTHKS reports.
Wong – who topped the pro-democracy camp's primary in the constituency, with more than 31,000 votes – warned that disqualifying him would mean Beijing would pay a price in the international community.
"With my candidacy, I want to show the world that despite the suppression from a communist regime, Hongkongers choose not to surrender, not to kowtow to China," Wong told reporters today.
He said he is not signing a confirmation letter to pledge allegiance to the SAR, saying this is not the prerequisite for people to enter the race but "a tool to divide" the pro-democracy camp.
Also running in Kowloon East is the Federation of Trade Unions' Bill Tang, who said people need to stop arguing among themselves, and that society needs to unite in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and for economic recovery.
An ally of Tang's in Kowloon East is the DAB's Joe Lai, who is a former district councillor. Lai said even though the public may not know him well, he's been in politics for more than 20 years and this should give voters confidence to pick him.
The DAB's Ben Chan, who is seeking to retain his seat in New Territories West, said lawmakers should be monitoring the government, but not to try and "mutually destruct" with the administration and halt the entire society.
Civic Passion's Cheng Chung-tai has also submitted his bid in New Territories West.
Alice Mak from the Federation of Trade Unions also submitted her papers to seek re-election in New Territories West. She said the pro-government camp has nothing to fear in light of "black violence", vowing she will stay tough despite the "serious challenges" she and her allies face.
She accused legal scholar Benny Tai, who co-ordinated the pro-democracy camp's primaries, of "working for external forces".
Mak alleged that he only spoke about sanctions from foreign countries should the opposition be disqualified, but not what he's fighting for. Mak said all voters should fight against this "mutual destruction".
Tai’s allies said his article published in April was more an analogy of the situation than what he wanted to achieve with the primaries.