EJ Insight » Hong KongToday, 14:45
Ho Wai-chueng, a district council candidate and member of a localist group, admits he was among a group of masked men who attacked pro-democracy protesters during a visit by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to Tin Shui Wai in 2013. Photos: Apple Daily, F
A member of a localist group, who is running for a District Council seat in Tuen Mun in the Nov. 22 elections, was found to be among a group of masked men who attacked pro-democracy protesters during a visit by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to Tin Shui Wai in 2013, Apple Daily reported on Friday.
Ho Wai-chueng, a member of the Tuen Mun Community Concern Group (TMCCG), admitted he was among the group of CY Leung supporters in the 2013 incident, but stressed that he did not use violence against anyone or receive any monetary reward for his participation.
“I was asked to go to an event by friends of mine,” he said. “I was only told to help CY leave the place safely when I arrived.”
Ho, who is running for a local council seat in Fu Tai district, said earlier on Thursday he would withdraw from the elections and quit the TMCCG, but changed his mind later in the day.
He said he was politically naive when he joined the CY Leung supporters in 2013 and that his participation in the District Council elections was part of his efforts to change himself.
He also said he would not allow his rival Chan Man-wai to get elected without any competition.
It was also learned that Ho was a member of the student group Scholarism and was an active participant in last year’s Occupy protests.
He said he quit Scholarism in July this year in order to focus on his studies.
The TMCCG issued a statement apologizing for its failure to conduct thorough background checks on members running in the upcoming District Council elections.
Hon Lai-yin, the group’s co-founder, said Ho joined the organization in September and never mentioned that he was involved in the Tin Shui Wai incident in 2013.
The Registration and Electoral Office said there is no exit mechanism for candidates after the nomination period.
Ho is one of the two candidates in Fu Tai district, the other being Chan Man-wai of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions.
Chan refused to comment on whether it is appropriate for Ho to pull out of the race, but said people with violent behavior should not run in any election.
– Contact us at english@hkej.com
EL/AC/CG
http://www.ejinsight.com/20151023-localist-to-pursue-poll-run-even-after-pro-cy-leung-role-exposed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20151023-localist-to-pursue-poll-run-even-after-pro-cy-leung-role-exposed
