Hong Kong corruption watchdog issues warrant for political commentator News
Dswaylst, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hong Kong corruption watchdog issues warrant for political commentator

The Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) issued a warrant on Tuesday for Martin Oei, an overseas political commentator, for allegedly inciting another person not to vote in the District Council election.

The ICAC alleged that Oei incited another person not to vote through his public social media posts during the election period, in violation of section 27A(1) of the Election (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance. Oei is currently not in Hong Kong. After the issuance of a warrant, Oei revealed on his YouTube channel that he has no plans to return to Hong Kong.

Inciting someone not to vote during the election period is a criminal offense enacted in 2021 following the amendment of the Legislative Council election mechanism that reduced the proportion of seats elected by geographical constituencies. Then Chief Executive Carrie Lam said that criminalizing incitement not to vote during the election period is a constitutional duty stemming from the amendment, made by China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee, of Hong Kong Basic Law Annex I and Annex II. The two annexes provide for the election mechanism of the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council.

Local media also reported that the Social Welfare Department will fund at least 180 elderly community centers to aid elderly voters in traveling to and from polling stations. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau Chief Alice Mak reaffirmed that there are comprehensive election laws to prevent corruption and that the measures will only allow elderly voters to commute and not implicate the fairness of the election.

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