【周庭被DQ】全體法律界選委發聲明表達深切遺憾　批DQ違法違憲

參選立法會港島區補選的香港眾志常委周庭，被選舉主任裁定眾志涉及鼓吹或推動「民主自決」，決定其提名無效。30名全體法律界選委，包括大律師公會主席戴啟思、前主席陳景生、梁家傑、執委石書銘等人今日(29日)發表聯合聲明，對周庭被DQ一事表達深切遺憾和關注，認為有關決定是不合理（unreasonable）、違法（unlawful）及違憲（unconstitutional）。

聯合聲明指出，根據《基本法》第26條和《香港人權法案》第21條，任何香港永久性居民均享有參選權；在《公民與政治權利國際公約》聯合國人權事務委員會通過的第25號一般性意見中，亦指出「不得以無理或歧視要求如教育、居住或出身或政治派別等理由來排除本來有資格競選的人參加競選」，第17段中亦明確指出，「政治意見不得作為剝奪任何人參加選舉權的理由」。

聲明續指，當局剝奪周庭參選資格是基於她的政治聯繫及主張，認為以此作為依據是「不合理」、「不合法」及「違憲」，在沒有給予周庭辯解的機會下，進一步違反了自然公義的基本原則。

香港特別行政區永久性居民依法享有選舉權和被選舉權。

凡屬永久性居民，無分人權法案第一(一)條所列之任何區別，不受無理限制，均應有權利及機會 —— (甲)直接或經由自由選擇之代表參與政事； (乙)在真正、定期之選舉中投票及被選。選舉權必須普及而平等，選舉應以無記名投票法行之，以保證選民意志之自由表現； (丙)以一般平等之條件，服香港公職。

聲明又指出，香港人一直對公開和公平的選舉原則珍而重之，取消具有某種政見或聯繫的候選人資格，有違公開和公平選舉，以及選民意願的自由表達，故當局的決定是壓制了香港島選民表達意見的自由，剝奪他們在即將舉行的補選中的選擇權。

聲明全文：

*[Joint Statement of All Members of the Legal Subsector of the Election Committee]*

1. We express our deep regret and concern over the decision said to be that of the Returning Officer of the Hong Kong Island Geographical Constituency that the nomination of Ms Chow Ting as a candidate in the 2018 Legislative Council By-election is invalid (“the Decision”).

2. The right to stand for election is a fundamental right enshrined in Article 26 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR as well as Article 21 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights (“HKBOR”). Specifically, Article 21(b) of the HKBOR provides that every permanent resident shall have the right and the opportunity, without unreasonable restrictions, to be elected.

3. In General Comment 25 adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, it is made clear at paragraph 15 that:

“Persons who are otherwise eligible to stand for election should not be excluded by unreasonable or discriminatory requirements such as education, residence or descent, or by reason of political affiliation.” 

Further, at paragraph 17:

“political opinion may not be used as a ground to deprive any person of the right to stand for election”.

4. In disqualifying Ms Chow Ting by virtue of her participation in an organisation which holds certain political views found unacceptable by the Administration, the Decision has used political opinion or affiliation as a ground to deprive her of the right to stand for election – which is unreasonable, unlawful and unconstitutional.  

5.  The Decision further breaches the fundamental rules of natural justice in that it was made without affording Ms Chow Ting any opportunity to make representations.

6. Open and fair elections have long been treasured by the people of Hong Kong. Disqualification of candidates with certain political opinion or affiliation frustrates the core purpose of an open and fair election, which is to guarantee the free expression of the will of the electors. The Decision in effect suppresses the free expression of the will of the Hong Kong Island electors by depriving them of a choice on the ballot paper in the forthcoming by-election.

7. The above rights of persons to stand for election apply to all persons seeking election across the political spectrum regardless of their political opinion or affiliation. This statement should in no way be taken as an endorsement of the political opinion or affiliation of Ms Chow Ting. We would have made the same points regardless of where a would-be candidate stands in the political spectrum.

陳景生 Chan King Sang Edward SC
戴啟思 Dykes Philip John SC
梁家傑 Leong Kah Kit Alan SC
夏偉志 Harris Graham Anthony SC
彭耀鴻 Pang Yiu Hung Robert SC
潘熙 Pun Hei Hectar SC
查錫我 Char Shik Ngor Stephen
鄭瑞泰 Cheng Shui Tai
張達明 Cheung Tat Ming Eric
張惠儀 Cheung Wai Yee Betty
張耀良 Cheung Yiu Leung
關尚義 Clancey John Joseph
何俊麒 Ho Chun Ki Frederick
何俊仁 Ho Chun Yan Albert
郭憬憲 Kwok King Hin Douglas
林洋鋐 Lam Kenneth
廖成利 Liu Sing Lee Bruce
文浩正 Man Ho Ching Jonathan
吳思諾 Ng Sze Nok Senia
潘淑瑛 Poon Suk Ying Debora
石書銘 Shek Randy Shu Ming
譚俊傑 Tam Chun Kit Jeffrey
韋智達 Vidler Michael John
黃鶴鳴 Wong Hok Ming Alan
王學今 Wong Huk Kam
黃國桐 Wong Kwok Tung Daniel
黃瑞紅 Wong Shui Hung Linda
黃宇逸 Wong Yu Yat Anson
葉海琅 Yip Hoi Long Richard
阮陳淑怡 Yuen Chan Suk Yee Helena