NG KANG-CHUNG KC.NG@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 09 September, 2015, 3:07pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 09 September, 2015, 4:12pm
Civic Party leader Alan Leong said pan-democrats hoped to step up cooperation and unity at the district council level. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong’s pan-democrats today said they would enhance their cooperation by setting up new groups at district level to press for reform of the roles of district councils in the city’s political system.
The idea was agreed on at a meeting today, where consensus was also reached on the importance of having direct and regular communication with Beijing.
Former Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah attended to brief his pan-democratic colleagues on his meetings with Beijing officials recently during his visit to the capital.
Civic Party leader Alan Leong Kah-kit said: “The pan-democrats’ position has always been that it is important to maintain direct and regular communication with the central government.”
On the district groups of pan-democrats, Leong said: “We hope to be able to step up cooperation and unity at the district council level.
“District councils play an important role in Hong Kong’s political system. Six lawmakers are from the district councils. And district councillors are also given seats on the committee that selects the chief executive.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Party chairman Emily Lau Wai-hing said she respected founding member Tik Chi-yuen’s decision to quit the party.
Democratic Party's Nelson Wong Sing-chi (left) accompanied by Tik Chi-yuen (right), speaks at a press conference on June 12, 2015. Photo: Felix Wong
Tik is leaving the party to form a new moderate think tank alongside ex-lawmaker Nelson Wong Sing-chi, who was expelled by the Democrats in July for calling on his allies to back the Beijing-decreed political reform plan for the city if certain conditions were met.
READ MORE: Dissident Tik Chi-yuen quits Hong Kong’s Democratic Party ‘to follow dream of democracy’
Lau denied that the Democrats could not tolerate dissenting opinions.
“We encourage discussion in the party,” she said. “Tik is entitled to his views. But I can say that the Democratic Party is very much open to dissenting voices.”
She added she was not worried that Tik’s departure would affect the unity of the party. But she said it was too early to speculate on the impact on it could have on the Democrats’ performance in the coming elections.
Democrat lawmaker Helena Wong Pik-wan added: “Tik has openly talked about his intention to resign. So it didn’t come as a big surprise.
“His differences with the party brewed since the debates on political reforms.
“But I would like to stress that being a moderate pan-democrat does not mean you have to accept unreasonable things imposed on you.
“And it is not radical when you refuse to give up your principles.”
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1856654/pan-democrats-team-district-level-push-hong-kong-reform
