Pro-establishment camp divided ahead of district council elections
November's polls will clarify the post-Occupy political landscape. In the first part of a series, we study the plans of pro-establishment parties
Cautious optimism is blooming in the pro-establishment camp ahead of November's district council polls, with hopes high that the Occupy protests have put voters off the pan-democrats.
But the prospects of pro-establishment groups strengthening their dominance of the 18 councils are clouded by possible intra-camp competition with the growth of two new parties, the middle-class-oriented New People's Party and the Business and Professionals Alliance. The parties are the fastest growing forces at district level. The grass-roots focused Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong holds the most seats, while its ally the Federation of Trade Unions ranks third behind the Democrats.
Although councils have little formal power, success at district level is crucial to next year's Legislative Council election, where five seats will be chosen in a citywide poll open to 3.5 million voters, for which candidates need nominations from district councillors. The elections are also the first chance for Hongkongers to have their say at the ballot box since last year's Occupy protests.
With that in mind, the two up-and-coming parties are widely expected to contest more seats, including at least 11 held by their pro-establishment allies.
Meanwhile the DAB's 132 councillors and the FTU's 34 are expected to run again, while dozens of "community officers" - party members lined up to run - are putting in the legwork.