Undue caution? Joshua Wong blasts Hong Kong officials over hold-ups in Demosisto party registration and mailings

Student activist claims localist group founded in April unable to set up bank account and leader Nathan Law asked about content in campaign pamphlets

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Wong (left) and Law of Demosisto rallying in Admiralty in July. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 12:15pm, 4 Aug 2016Updated: 1:07pm, 18 Aug 2017

The Companies Registry has asked Demosisto to explain if it adheres to the Basic Law in pushing for Hong Kong’s “self-determination” as the party tries to register as a company, the party’s secretary general Joshua Wong Chi-fung revealed on Thursday morning.

Speaking on an RTHK programme, the 19-year-old university student activist said the registry and police had yet to allow his party, founded in April, to register as a company or society. The party was thus unable to set up its own bank account to raise funds as other parties did, Wong said, and had to rely instead on individual members’ personal accounts.

“It’s unreasonable,” he said. “The Companies Registry is just a government department. If you have doubts about our goal, you can consult the Department of Justice.”

He added the new political party’s lawyers were “drafting documents to respond to the inquiry” as Demosisto believed political views should not be a factor in registering a company.

The Open University student’s revelation came amid a raging controversy over eligibility for the Legislative Council elections, as the Electoral Affairs Commission and returning officers were criticised for disqualifying six candidates because of their advocacy of the city’s independence.