Hong Kong should prepare itself for some raucous election action next month as the independent candidates vow to steal the limelight from their better-known political competitors in the race for Legco seats.
But the candidates stressed their unconventional campaign tactics were not frivolous, and were intended to draw attention to social issues using limited resources and time.
The biggest field yet of 287 candidates has been confirmed to contest the September 9 Legco election, 216 of those - on 67 slates - will battle for 35 directly elected seats in five geographical constituencies. Sixteen slates of candidates claim they do not have political affiliation.
According to electoral regulations, each list of candidates must be given equal time during the digital media debates to present its election platform.
This could mean that each slate of candidates in New Territories East - where the most intense race takes place with 19 slates running for nine seats - would share only about three minutes in a one-hour debate.
Pong Yat-ming, an activist against 'tycoon hegemony' who will contest the New Territories East constituency said it would be good for democratic development to have more aspirants contesting the election, but inevitably each candidate would have a shorter time in debates.
He said he may use performing arts during the televised debate to express his messages - but declined to reveal more details because he wanted to preserve the 'wow effect' for his audiences.