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Party at risk of losing only Legco seat in Kowloon West, vice-chairman says

Jimmy Cheung

The Democratic Party could risk losing its only seat in Kowloon West if there were two party tickets in September, vice-chairman Sin Chung-kai warned.

Amid growing speculation of a political 'comeback' following his withdrawal from the Hong Kong Island contest, Mr Sin has given the clearest indication yet that he has no intention of returning to Kowloon West.

'It was not totally risk-free if I ran in Kowloon West,' he said.

While internal party surveys showed there would be enough support to win more than one seat in Kowloon West, Mr Sin said he and James To Kun-sun, the party's only incumbent in the constituency, might be defeated if they failed to split votes tactfully. He was also concerned such a U-turn would have a negative impact on voters.

'A wrong judgment might have very serious consequences. After all, it's not a bad thing to take a four-year break.'

Mr Sin conceded that if he were to run he would target unionist legislator Lau Chin-shek's votes in Kowloon City. But if he managed to win a second seat for the party, that would mean Mr Lau or Civic Party first-time hopeful Claudia Mo Man-ching might lose.

'That would only benefit Michael Tien [Puk-sun],' he said, referring to the similar source of votes shared by the Liberal Party aspirant and Ms Mo.

He said he had yet to consider in which constituency he would stand in four years.

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