New | Regina Ip’s New People’s Party seals deal with Civil Force group
Senior figures from both sides sign up for dual membership, bringing groups' total district council seats to 31
The number of district council members of the New People’s Party has almost tripled, from 12 to 31, after it confirmed its alliance with New Territories East group Civil Force on Wednesday.
Instead of a clear-cut merger, senior NPP figures will also sign up to Civil Force and vice versa.
Civil Force chairman Pun Kwok-shan, a Sha Tin district councillor, was named the New People’s Party’s new vice-chairman.
The NPP has two legislative councillors – party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who also sits on the Executive Council, and vice-chairman Michael Tien Puk-sun.
The NPP has 12 district councillors across Hong Kong Island and the New Territories, while its new partner has 18 district councillors in Sha Tin and Sai Kung, both in New Territories East.
Scarlett Pong Oi-lan is the only one of the 18 Civil Force district councilors to have not joined the NPP as part of the alliance, while all 12 NPP district councillors have also joined Civil Force. Both NPP lawmakers have signed up for Civil Force. Industrial sector representative Lam Tai-fai, Civil Force’s only lawmaker, rejected the opportunity to join the NPP.