Standing down: Hong Kong lawmaker Ip Kwok-him, strategist in botched political reform vote, will not seek re-election

A veteran pro-Beijing lawmaker will not run in November’s district council poll but said the decision had nothing to do with the fiasco he helped create during the voting of the political reform proposal. 

Ip Kwok-him, of the Democratic Alliance of the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, will not run for the Kwun Lung constituency in the Central and Western district council again, a seat he first took in 1991. 

He said the decision was in line with his party’s approach to groom a new generation.

“It is a difficult yet happy decision,” said Ip. “The person I hope will succeed me has already been helping with district-wide work since my last election and has established a strong network there.”

Yeung Hoi-wing, originally a district officer for Ip and also a member of the alliance, formally filed to run for Ip’s seat. 

Ip is a lawmaker through a district council constituency, also known as a functional seat. His withdrawal from district council office means he will have to run for direct election or quit the lawmaking role altogether.