Michael Shum
The SAR’s biggest pro-establishment party will field more than 100 candidates for the District Council elections, as several political parties announced their representatives standing in the December 10 polls.
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said over 100 party candidates will contest a seat in all 44 direct election constituencies.
Among them, 95 percent have tertiary education background, 30 percent from the industrial and commercial sector, while 30 percent are 35 years old or younger, said party chairman Gary Chan Hak-kan said.
”Party members will be actively participating in campaign work, while the party will also invite its heavyweights, including former and incumbent sole Hong Kong delegates to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee Tam Yiu-chung and Starry Lee Wai-king, to help,” Chan said.
”The election campaigns in some constituencies will be very challenging. We will set up a dedicated task force to help with campaign efforts at those constituencies.”
He said the only requirements for nomination are for an individual to be a patriot and have a commitment to serve the community.
Vice chairman Ben Chan Han-pan said DAB has to explain the new election system to citizens.
”In the previous district council elections, many candidates who had done a lot of district work had lost and made their electors disappointed. This is a whole new election system, and I therefore call on citizens to cast their ballot,” he added.
Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong plans to tap 34-year-old Jacky Lee Chiu-yu, alongside a few other members, to run in the direct elections.
And the Liberal Party could have a celebrity – actor and TV host Adrianna Sung Chih-ling – as one of their four candidates, sources said.
On the other hand, the Democratic Party will have six candidates, including chairman Lo Kin-hei, vice-chairwoman Bonnie Ng Hoi-yan and Yau Tsim Mong district councilor Leo Chu Tsz-lok, who will seek reelection.
But out of the six candidates, five had resigned when district councilors were required to pledge allegiance to the SAR back in 2019.
The Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood will field Kwok Wai-shing and Chow Kai-lim.
The Legislative Council passed a bill in July to revamp the election method of the 470 district councilors, slashing the number of directly elected seats to only 20 percent, or 88 seats.
Others will be elected through indirect elections or appointed by the administration.
Candidates will have to obtain nominations from three committees within the district – fight crime, area, and district fire safety – which are all under the Home Affairs Department and filled with pro-government politicians.
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