Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong Calls Upcoming Election 'Scandalous'

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong speaks after he and 11 others were disqualified by authorities from taking part in the upcoming Legislative Council election, based on new restrictions placed by China's national security law.

"Beyond any doubt, it's the most scandalous election in Hong Kong history," said Wong.

Hong Kong authorities drew new red lines on the limits of dissent in the financial center, barring a dozen activists including Joshua Wong from seeking office and arresting four others over social media posts.

The back-to-back actions came within a span of about 24 hours Thursday -- a sweeping gesture showing how much a national security law enacted last month had strengthened Beijing’s hand. Both the Chinese and Hong Kong governments issued statements praising the disqualification of 12 opposition candidates, showing that mere opposition to the law drafted by Beijing was enough to prevent them from taking office.

“The entire pro-democracy movement now understands that there’s no legitimate or effective channels of opposing the government,” said Joseph Cheng, a retired political science professor and veteran democracy activist. “Meanwhile, anger will certainly continue to accumulate, which makes governance difficult.”

While Chinese authorities argue they’re seeking stability after a historic wave of sometimes-violent protests last year, activists and business groups have warned that the clampdown jeopardizes the former British colony’s future as a place where capital and ideas are exchanged freely.

U.S. President Donald Trump has already begun rolling back special treatment guaranteed to Hong Kong in the 1990s after China agreed to preserve its “high degree of autonomy” until 2047. On Thursday, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo told U.S. lawmakers the administration is considering how to treat asylum seekers from Hong Kong.

China’s top legislative body is “very likely” to discuss constitutional issues that would arise from a year-long delay to the election, Hong Kong news site HK01 reported on Friday, citing unidentified people. The National People’s Congress Standing Committee may also discuss whether to shorten the new lawmakers’ terms to three years or keep the current four-year term when it meets Aug. 8-11, the report said.

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