Hong Kong’s top court rejects challenge to law banning calls for election boycotts

Hong Kong’s top court rejects challenge to law banning calls for election boycotts Judges say criminalising boycott calls is proportionate to safeguard elections and counter “organised campaigns” after 2019 unrest They rejected a challenge by former Chinese University of Hong Kong student union president Jacky So Tsun-fung, who argued that the law constituted an unlawful interference with residents’ rights to freedom of expression and equality. Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, who wrote the judgment, said the restriction was “modest in scope and carefully circumscribed”, as it only outlawed public advocacy for boycotting elections and casting invalid ballots during designated periods. Cheung said the interference with personal rights went no further than necessary to achieve the legitimate aims of safeguarding electoral participation, maintaining public confidence in the system and securing the legitimacy of election outcomes.