Pro-democracy politician in Hong Kong gives up British citizenship

A prominent pro-democracy politician in Hong Kong, Emily Lau, is to renounce her British citizenship so that she can contest the first post-colonial territorial elections next year.

All candidates for direct election to the Hong Kong Legislative Council are barred from holding foreign citizenship.

Speaking on Hong Kong radio, Emily Lau said she opposed the restriction but given the time constraints involved in a legal challenge, she had decided to give up her British citizenship to meet the requirements.

Emily Lau was a leading member of the Hong Kong elected legislature which was dissolved by Beijing when it resumed sovereignty over the former British colony in July.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service