JOYCE NGjoyce.ng@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 22 September, 2015, 11:30pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 22 September, 2015, 11:30pm
Youth members of the Democrats. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
Young members of the Democratic Party say they are unfazed by competition from groups of former Occupy protesters in at least 10 constituencies at district council elections in November.
They urge the new groups to stay committed to serving the districts beyond the campaigning, instead of leaving right after the polls are over.
Fung Man-tao, at 22 the youngest Democrat candidate, is considering challenging an incumbent, from the Business and Professionals Alliance, in Yau Tsim Mong. He noted a new group, Youngspiration, was also interested to run but had not joined a co-ordination system among established pan-democratic parties to avoid clashes.
"I'm not worried," Fung said on Tuesday. "Anyone committed to democracy is welcome."
A fresh graduate of European studies from Baptist University, Fung said he was not new to politics, having helped former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang, party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing and lawmaker Helena Wong Pik-wan in their Legislative Council campaigns before.
The party had been concerned competition from groups such as Youngspiration would affect vote share and hand victory to pro-establishment rivals.
In 2011, the Democrats lost seats to Beijing loyalists in constituencies by small margins after another pan-democratic party, People Power, vowed to "punish" them for negotiating secretly with Beijing over political reform.
Fung is among 10 potential Democrats who will face such challenges this time.
The party is fielding 95 candidates, half of whom will vie with the pro-establishment Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. Party vice-chairman Lo Kin-hei said the average age of their candidates was 41.9, the lowest ever.
All 18 district councils are dominated by Beijing loyalists. The party will field the most candidates - 13 - in Kwai Tsing, the stronghold of pan-democrats.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1860546/young-democrats-shrug-rivalry-ex-occupy-protesters-hong-kong
