A Hong Kong lawmaker advocating more autonomy from China who won a seat in landmark elections last weekend yesterday said he had received “death threats” before and since the polls as he reported them to police.
Eddie Chu (朱凱迪) was one of at least five territory candidates pushing for more distance or even an outright break from Beijing who took seats for the first time in the Legislative Council assembly on Sunday amid fears of China tightening its grip.
Chu, 38, is also an environmentalist who has campaigned against the destruction of heritage properties to make way for newer developments.
Photo: AFP
He said he was unable to go home because he was being stalked and the safety of his family threatened.
“I received death threats ... because of my political views,” Chu said before going to Wanchai police station with his lawyer.
“The threat to my personal safety is imminent ... it has drastically worsened in the past two to three days,” he added.
He did not give any detail on who had made the threats and how they reached him.
Michael Vidler, a lawyer assisting Chu, urged police to take the case seriously.
“Politically motivated threats or violence against elected representatives of the people is a direct attack on the rule of law and democracy,” Vidler said. “The Hong Kong police are duty-bound to uphold the rule of law and everybody’s constitutional rights, including Mr Chu’s,” he said.
Sunday’s election saw a record turnout with more than 2 million residents casting their votes in the territory of 7 million.
It was the first major election since the 2014 Umbrella movement protests, with the anti-establishment camp increasing its share of the legislature, which is still weighted toward Beijing.
Chu, standing as an independent, emerged as winner in his constituency with more than 80,000 votes — the most of any candidate in the polls.
His allegations mark the latest controversy to hit the election.
Several pro-independence activists were banned from standing and two say they will now appeal their disqualification, according to media reports.
Pro-establishment candidate Ken Chow, of the Liberal Party, has also complained of interference, saying he was told to quit the race to make way for other pro-Beijing candidates.
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