Hong Kong: activist Wong can not compete in local elections

More than 1,100 candidates want to play in the local election in Hong Kong in November. Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong may not be among the candidates after a government decision. The 22-year-old leader of the democracy movement in the Chinese Special Administrative Region criticized the decision on Tuesday as an act of political censorship. Among the candidates, he was the only one excluded.

The Hong Kong government merely stated that a candidate had not been admitted because he violated the electoral law, which prohibits the promotion and use of the right to self-determination. A statement said that "self-determination or support for Hong Kong's independence is incompatible with the constitutional and legal status of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region." Wong was not named.

The young activist has been considered the face of democratic forces in Hong Kong since the 2014 umbrella movement. His meeting with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on the sidelines of an event in Berlin in September had led to fierce anger in Beijing and a noticeable slowdown in German-Chinese relations.

Following protests, a record number of candidates are candidates for local elections

Since its return to China in 1997, the former British Crown Colony is autonomously governed by the principle of "one country, two systems". The seven million Hong Kong citizens are under China's sovereignty, but - unlike the people of the Communist People's Republic - enjoy greater political rights such as freedom of expression and assembly, which they now fear.

In the past, little attention was given to local elections, which were always dominated by China-friendly bidders. However, the turmoil of the past few months saw this time register a record number of candidates and voters. Every weekend, the Asian economic and financial metropolis has witnessed new demonstrations against the government and the growing influence of the Chinese Communist leadership.

Wong had written on Facebook on Saturday, advocating a legally non-binding referendum that would give citizens a say on the future of Hong Kong. He was against independence of the former British Crown Colony.