First-time election candidate in Hong Kong's Discovery Bay development calls for more moderate approach
First-time candidate calls for more moderate approach to local disputes as incumbent vows to fight against 'monopoly' of developer HKRI
A first-time runner is offering an alternative to voters in upmarket Discovery Bay to test his "moderate win-win approach" in the November 22 election.
Issues regarding ferry services and the management of developer HKR International (HKRI) are at the heart of two contestants' campaigns for the seat in the Discovery Bay constituency of the Islands district council.
Discovery Bay, on northeastern Lantau, is HKRI's flagship property in Hong Kong and was the first development project by the group. Covering an area of 649 hectares, it is a resort-style residential project comprising villas, low-, mid- and high-rise residential developments. There is also a 27-hole golf course, a private man-made beach and community facilities.
About 18,000 people live in Discovery Bay.
Civic Party incumbent Amy Yung Wing-sheung, who is seeking a fifth term, pledged to continue the fight against the "monopoly" of HKRI. Her main rival Francis Chiu Tak-wai said he would seek a "moderate" approach. There is a third candidate - Jimmy Hu Ziliang, a 23-year-old IT expert and app developer.
Chiu said: "I am not suggesting HKRI has done perfectly. But our incumbent councillor has seemed to resort only to noisy protests to confront the developer. There have been ceaseless noisy protests against this and that over the years. But it feels like we have not won a single battle and the residents have been led nowhere.
"The result is that there are too many unnecessary disputes, too much politics and the community is split. There is an atmosphere of intense hatred. You can see some people gnash their teeth when talking about HKRI.
"That is not the community I know. I want harmony back in Discovery Bay."
Chiu, who also sits on the Islands district "fight crime" committee, added: "I think we should aim at reaching a win-win solution that the developer and residents both find acceptable."
In his election leaflet, he stressed he aims to "create a better home, based on rationality and residents' real interests".
He described himself as "centralist". "I am neither [for the] pan-democrats nor pro-establishment. I believe I can be more impartial as a centralist."
He cited the rows over ferry fares and said HKRI could offer special discounts on Sundays or public holidays so as to win back passengers who would otherwise choose to take a bus.
"Our councillor leads protests every time there is a fare increase. But we must let the operator make some money or else the service cannot be sustained," said Chiu.
He also questioned if Yung served wholeheartedly for the Discovery Bay residents.
"I find this funny. How can a district councillor representing Discovery Bay not set up an office in Discovery Bay? Seeing residents in a fast-food restaurant. Come on. Is it a joke?" Chiu said, referring to Yung's common practice of meeting residents in a local fast-food chain restaurant on weekends.
Yung hit back and said: "I receive no support from the developer for my work on behalf of the Discovery Bay community. When I approached the developer to rent an office in Discovery Bay, I was told that there was nothing suitable for me.
"Therefore, I meet residents in fast-food restaurants to listen to their views and act on their concerns."
She also said the property management company had barred her from distributing newsletters to residential units in Discovery Bay and she had to use emails and phone calls to communicate with residents.
A veteran councillor, Yung said she had an edge over her rivals.
In the 2011 district council elections, 1,571 votes were cast by voters in the Discovery Bay constituency. Yung collected 863 votes, beating her New People's Party rival. There were then 4,160 registered voters in the constituency, but that number has now increased to 4,394.
The third candidate, Jimmy Hu, said he would seek ways to reduce the number of tourists to Discovery Bay and "regain its peacefulness".
