Emily Lau Wai-hing becomes Democratic Party's first chairwoman

Veteran politician Emily Lau Wai-hing has become the Democratic Party's first chairwoman after defeating vice-chairman Sin Chung-kai by a narrow margin in an election yesterday.

Lau, acting chairwoman and a lawmaker for New Territories East, won 149 votes, deputy chairman Sin Chung-kai got 133 and Southern district councillor Au Nok-hin received 14.

Of the three candidates for the party's two vice-chairman posts, Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, with 189 votes, and Lo Kin-hei, with 173, beat Kowloon East lawmaker Wu Chi-wai, with 166.

Despite losing his bid for the vice-chairmanship, Wu won the most votes for a seat on the central committee - 260.

Party chief executive Lam Cheuk-ting said 300 party members voted for a chairman, two deputy chairmen and 27 central committee members.

"The party would have a dialogue with the liaison office of the central people's government on the issue of the 2017 chief executive election and 2020 Legco election if the central government shows its sincerity on the proposal for universal suffrage," Lau said.

She said the new leadership would rejuvenate the party's image, garner more support and appeal to the young generation and women voters.