Radicals willing to force election

League of Social Democrats' hopefuls say that if elected to the Legislative Council they will resign mid-term if the government presses ahead with national security legislation or an undemocratic package for universal suffrage.

The group, which has only one seat in Legco after a split with Wong Yuk-man and Albert Chan Wai-yip, yesterday announced its line-up for the September 9 election. Four candidates will contest four of the five geographical constituencies.

'We don't regret having resigned [to force by-elections] in 2010. If needed, we are willing to contribute to prompt a de-facto referendum [again],' said league chairman and lawmaker 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung. 'If elected we are prepared to vacate our four seats. But we can't work alone as we can only have seats in four geographical constituencies at most.'

In 2010, five legislators, including Leung, resigned to force by-elections in all five geographical constituencies in what they called a de-facto referendum on universal suffrage.

The move prompted the government to propose a change in the law, which was passed this year. This ruled that from the upcoming Legco term, lawmakers who resign mid-term are forbidden to run again for six months, but their colleagues and allies can still run.

Leung said the lawmakers did not rule out resigning to force by-elections should Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's administration propose the national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law and undemocratic electoral methods for the 2017 chief executive race.

While incumbent Leung will seek re-election in New Territories East, former league chairman Andrew To Kwan-hang will contest Kowloon East again.