【周庭被DQ】全体法律界选委发声明表达深切遗憾 批DQ违法违宪
参选立法会港岛区补选的香港众志常委周庭，被选举主任裁定众志涉及鼓吹或推动“民主自决”，决定其提名无效。30名全体法律界选委，包括大律师公会主席戴启思、前主席陈景生、梁家杰、执委石书铭等人今日(29日)发表联合声明，对周庭被DQ一事表达深切遗憾和关注，认为有关决定是不合理（unreasonable）、违法（unlawful）及违宪（unconstitutional）。
联合声明指出，根据《基本法》第26条和《香港人权法案》第21条，任何香港永久性居民均享有参选权；在《公民与政治权利国际公约》联合国人权事务委员会通过的第25号一般性意见中，亦指出“不得以无理或歧视要求如教育、居住或出身或政治派别等理由来排除本来有资格竞选的人参加竞选”，第17段中亦明确指出，“政治意见不得作为剥夺任何人参加选举权的理由”。
声明续指，当局剥夺周庭参选资格是基于她的政治联系及主张，认为以此作为依据是“不合理”、“不合法”及“违宪”，在没有给予周庭辩解的机会下，进一步违反了自然公义的基本原则。
香港特别行政区永久性居民依法享有选举权和被选举权。
凡属永久性居民，无分人权法案第一(一)条所列之任何区别，不受无理限制，均应有权利及机会 —— (甲)直接或经由自由选择之代表参与政事； (乙)在真正、定期之选举中投票及被选。选举权必须普及而平等，选举应以无记名投票法行之，以保证选民意志之自由表现； (丙)以一般平等之条件，服香港公职。
声明又指出，香港人一直对公开和公平的选举原则珍而重之，取消具有某种政见或联系的候选人资格，有违公开和公平选举，以及选民意愿的自由表达，故当局的决定是压制了香港岛选民表达意见的自由，剥夺他们在即将举行的补选中的选择权。
声明全文：
*[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.
陈景生 Chan King Sang Edward SC
戴启思 Dykes Philip John SC
梁家杰 Leong Kah Kit Alan SC
夏伟志 Harris Graham Anthony SC
彭耀鸿 Pang Yiu Hung Robert SC
潘熙 Pun Hei Hectar SC
查锡我 Char Shik Ngor Stephen
郑瑞泰 Cheng Shui Tai
张达明 Cheung Tat Ming Eric
张惠仪 Cheung Wai Yee Betty
张耀良 Cheung Yiu Leung
关尚义 Clancey John Joseph
何俊麒 Ho Chun Ki Frederick
何俊仁 Ho Chun Yan Albert
郭憬宪 Kwok King Hin Douglas
林洋𬭎 Lam Kenneth
廖成利 Liu Sing Lee Bruce
文浩正 Man Ho Ching Jonathan
吴思诺 Ng Sze Nok Senia
潘淑瑛 Poon Suk Ying Debora
石书铭 Shek Randy Shu Ming
谭俊杰 Tam Chun Kit Jeffrey
韦智达 Vidler Michael John
黄鹤鸣 Wong Hok Ming Alan
王学今 Wong Huk Kam
黄国桐 Wong Kwok Tung Daniel
黄瑞红 Wong Shui Hung Linda
黄宇逸 Wong Yu Yat Anson
叶海琅 Yip Hoi Long Richard
阮陈淑怡 Yuen Chan Suk Yee Helena