‘Resist communism’ platform may antagonise Beijing, warns Fung
The “resist communism” electioneering platform used by some pan-democrats risked widening the gap of mistrust with Beijing, a veteran member of the camp said on Wednesday.
Speaking on RTHK radio on Wednesday morning, lawmaker Frederick Fung Kin-kee said such a rejection of the mainland as a whole would worsen the relationship between the pro-democracy camp and the central government.
“If mutual distrust persists, there might not be real universal suffrage in 2017. A negative impact would be created,” said Fung, a member of the Association of Democracy and People’s Livelihood, who won a “super seat” in Sunday’s election.
During electioneering for Sunday’s legislative election, the Civic Party emphasised its determination to “preserve Hong Kong values” and “resist communist ideas”.
Beijing authorities have pledged Hongkongers a one-person, one-vote election for the city’s chief executive, but the details have not been provided.
The Civic Party also stood firm against the government’s introduction of a course on national education, which critics say could brainwash students. The government has now shelved the deadline for making the course compulsory.
Also on the radio programme, Beijing loyalist Chan Yuen-han continued her criticism of “unscrupulous tricks” by fellow members of the pro-establishment camp during the final moments of the campaign.
The Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) candidate first vented her anger on Monday, condemning rivals for telling voters outside polling stations that “Chan had already won”, so they should vote for other candidates instead.
On Wednesday morning she said: “Competition is fine, but when it comes to lies, it’s very unsatisfactory.” Chan ended up winning one of the five super seats.
She blamed one poll winner for “not doing much work, but only relying on the political group’s backing”, without naming names.
Among the five “super seat” winners, Starry Lee Wai-king from the Democratic Alliance for the Progress and Betterment of Hong Kong, was the least experienced politically. Observers said she beat fellow DAB member Lau Kong-wah, in part, by making a last-minute, public appeal for more support on voting day.
Chan, meanwhile, rejected claims that the FTU had close ties with “the grandfather” – or Beijing authorities.
She did not reply directly when asked whether the pro-establishment camp would dare say “no” to Beijing, adding that she dared to confront Hong Kong’s large property developers, and urged the chief executive to do the same.
The super seat functional constituencies are so named because they are chosen by a large electorate – from Hong Kong’s 3.2 million voters who do not have a vote in any other functional constituencies.
