An Electoral Turning Point for Hong Kong

Hong Kong barred a 23-year-old man from running for a seat on a local district council that has no real power to pass legislation. Joshua Wong, an activist who supports the protests in Hong Kong, recently testified before US Congress, lobbying for a bill that would heighten scrutiny of human rights violations in Hong Kong. “To the surprise of many observers, the authorities have allowed a number of prominent activists to pass a vetting process conducted by local civil servants and register as candidates,” explains Mike Chinoy, journalist and senior non-resident fellow with University of Southern California's US-China Institute. Allowing Wong's candidacy might have helped ease tensions. An official statement on the decision expressed concern about an independence movement. “But the Hong Kong government's move to bar Wong from running will further inflame an already volatile conflict by underscoring that those in the protest movement have no viable pathway within the existing political system to articulate their concerns.” Hong Kong's district council elections are scheduled for 24 November. – YaleGlobal