Paul Tse admits getting Beijing's help in Legco election

New lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun admits getting a leg-up from the central government's liaison office during the Legislative Council election campaign, during which critics called him a "fake independent".

The lawyer also said his switch from a trade-based seat to a geographical one - Kowloon East - was driven by a "secret aspiration" - to be in a better position to defend the value of functional constituencies, which some say are obstructing the city's path to democracy.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Tse said of rumours that he had received support from the liaison office: "In a way, it is true. As we made contact, I got the message that they did not object to me entering the election, as I was considered a better choice than some other rivals whom they saw as troublemakers."

This year, three former functional constituency lawmakers on the tougher challenge of contesting a directly elected seat; of these, only Tse ended up victorious.

During campaigning, he was invited to meet people from the Beijing-loyalist network and gained exposure to the electorate through their functions.

Tse said there was no discussion or agreement on whether they would arrange for votes to back him in his capacity as an independent.

The support was unconditional, he said. "It is necessary for a candidate to gain Beijing's support, but it does not mean I have to vote in accordance with it."