Parties reach for familiar tactics as they return to the campaign trail
The hot issue of universal suffrage may have been put on the back burner, but for major political parties the changing atmosphere since the 2004 Legco election has not affected how they try to project their images.
The four mainstream parties have stuck to tried-and-tested publicity strategies, although they have shifted their focus to livelihood issues.
In line with its target to project an image as a fresh force among pan-democrats, the Civic Party has used a cocktail of internet blog, videos and street-acting led by its second-generation candidates in order to attract young and middle-class voters.
Tanya Chan, who heads the party's list in the Hong Kong Island constituency, has taken part in publicity stunts including jogging in Central and performing a 'freeze' - stopping a movement and maintaining the position - in Causeway Bay. Party strategists were particularly hopeful that the campaign dress code for some of its candidates - such as party leader Audrey Eu Yuet-mee's T-shirts with a colourful mini-skirt - would fuel people's imagination of a just society under a clear blue sky.
Leaders of the Liberal Party also returned to the election routine of ditching their usually immaculate suit jackets on the campaign trail in favour of white T-shirts - rumoured to be made by a clothing chain owned by party member Michael Tien Puk-sun. 'White T-shirts with our names printed in red characters on the chest give us a fresh outlook,' said the party's vice-chairwoman, Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee, who designed the pattern.
Leader James Tien Pei-chun said despite being a party with deep resources, the cap on campaign spending under election rules had forced it to scale down publicity.
The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong will resort to traditional means of publicity like distributing bills and organising rallies, despite also airing video promotions on buses earlier. While it planned to launch an election website, party chairman Tam Yiu-chung said online campaigning would only be a supplement.
'Actually, there are not many new things we can do. Not everyone uses the internet. If we don't print leaflets, it will be hard to reach voters,' he said.
Kam Nai-wai, who is running for the Democratic Party on Hong Kong Island, said his list would rely on the tried-and-tested strategy of networking with residents in the districts, as they prefer to be 'pragmatic' when fighting for democracy and people's livelihoods.
Political scientist Ma Ngok, of Chinese University, said the lack of innovative campaign strategies, coupled with the lack of a sense of ultimate showdown between the pan-democrats and Beijing loyalists, would make it difficult for voters to make up their minds.
'The Civic Party is trying to sell a fresh image without much substance. The Democratic Party and the DAB have maintained the old-fashioned community touch, while the rich Liberal Party members have lowered themselves to the grass roots.
'Nobody has a clear edge as all lobby for improved livelihoods.'
