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A rattled Ko Wing-man makes his point. He admitted losing control.

Heckled Hong Kong minister Ko Wing-man in slanging match on campaign trail

Ko Wing-man loses his cool with elderly manon public housing estate who accuses him of 'fooling the children' on political reform

Hong Kong's heated debate over political reform fired up one of the most mild-tempered government officials yesterday as he got into a shouting match with an elderly man on the campaign trail to win people over to the government's package.

Dr Ko Wing-man, the secretary for food and health, admitted later that he had "lost control of his emotions".

The drama unfolded on a public housing estate in Ngau Tau Kok yesterday morning, when the minister, in a blue windbreaker, stepped up to the stump to help push through the package for the 2017 chief executive election. Individual ministers have been carrying out unannounced community visits after the kick-off bus tour ended in protests last week.

Just after he told a young boy about the reform and said "I hope you will support us", a grey-haired man came up to Ko and yelled: "Can 1,200 people represent the whole of Hong Kong?" The man then turned away.

He was referring to the proposed committee that would pick two or three hopefuls for a public vote in 2017.

Ko went after him and said: "Mister, don't go. I don't like people who come shouting and go right away."

The man did stop and criticised him for "fooling the children". The proposed election system would only produce undesirable candidates like a "white-haired witch", he said.

"I disagree with you. The words you use are a bit of an insult," Ko shot back. "It's fine for you to have your own ideals but you shouldn't impose them on all other Hongkongers."

"That's exactly what you're doing!" his rival retorted.

Their row continued for a little longer, with the old gent insisting that Ko was cheating and Ko shouting back "objection!"

Ko then said: "Listen to me first! I have told the kids there are different views to the reform and I only asked them to analyse with independent thinking. That's all!"

The minister then stalked off with his colleagues.

After his visit, Ko, who has often topped public-opinion surveys of government officials, said: "To be frank, I'm just an ordinary person. I only hope there's room for discussion.

"I was unable to control my emotions. I hope the public will understand I have tried my best."

Two other ministers campaigning in other Kowloon neighbourhoods had less agitated, but nonetheless embarrassing, encounters.

An old man being addressed by Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung in a restaurant suddenly began to vomit. So got him to throw up on a plate.

Paul Chan Mo-po, the secretary for development, bumped into a man who said he wanted "Leung Chun-ying to be fired".

The chief executive, meanwhile, visited the Police Dog Unit in Sheung Shui. The visit had not been announced in advance but Leung supporters posted photos on a Facebook page called "Speak Out HK".

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Heckled minister in slanging match
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