Uneasiness over lack of post-Occupy electoral passion drives pro-democracy candidates to appeal for support again ahead of today's vote
STUART LAUstuart.lau@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 22 November, 2015, 2:23am
UPDATED : Sunday, 22 November, 2015, 2:23am
Lawmakers and other politicians go on the campaign trail at Upper Wong Tai Sin Estate yesterday. Photo: Edward Wong
Pan-democratic candidates made an 11th-hour call for support ahead of today's district council elections, expressing fear over the calm mood prevailing in the wake of last year's Occupy protests and the confrontational stance taken by pro-establishment rivals since then.
In general, campaigning has been low key among pro-establishment candidates, with the focus on local issues rather than big-ticket political controversies.
While the citywide elections are the first since the 79-day Occupy protests, few pundits expect the movement to have much of an effect on the 200-plus pro-democracy aspirants.
"The impact of the Occupy protests is waning and there have been very few discussions on political reform in recent months, whether in the media or elsewhere," Professor Ma Ngok, head of Chinese University's department of government and public administration, said.
"I believe it will have little impact on the district council elections overall."
Unlike the Legislative Council election - set for next year - the district polls are considered to be less about politics and more about social issues, which in part explains why a large number of seats have been won unopposed by pro-establishment candidates, who generally have more resources to please voters.
"The number of pan-democratic winners could drop further, thanks to a long-time strategy planning by the pro-establishment camp stretching back to four years ago, including vote-rigging and grooming of candidates who claimed to be independents," China watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu said. "It's always been Beijing's plan."
Four years ago, the district polls became the centre of attention as the government introduced a new electoral method for Legco through the creation of five so-called "super seats", which are chosen by all Hong Kong electors apart from those with a vote in traditional functional constituencies. Candidates had to be district councillors.
Pan-democrats fared badly in the 2011 district polls, securing just 70 out of 412 seats, with all 18 councils being controlled by pro-establishment politicians.
This time round, most pan-democrats face at least one pro-establishment rival each.
But their efforts are complicated by competition from radical pro-democracy candidates who criticise them over their inability to fight for democracy and accuse them of being too sympathetic to the mainland.
One of the most keenly watched races takes place in Lok Tsui constituency in Tuen Mun, where Democratic Party heavyweight and lawmaker Albert Ho Chun-yan faces fierce competition from both ends of the political spectrum.
His rivals include former Law Society president Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, a pro-government figure, and Cheng Chung-tai, a radical pro-democracy activist linked to localist group Civic Passion. The other candidates are Yuen Wai-chung, Cheung Wing-wai and Shum Kam-tim.
Albert Ho complained yesterday that he was obstructed from electioneering by a management company.
Junius Ho had University of Hong Kong council member Dr Lo Chung-mau as his supporter. But he was mocked by Cheng, whose helper lay on the floor to tease Lo, who had claimed a student pushed him to the floor during a July council meeting before he reportedly voted against a liberal scholar's appointment to a management post.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1881633/pan-democratic-candidates-last-call-poll-backing
