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Owen Fung

The Liberal Party’s Ken Chow Wing-kan, who dropped out of the Legislative Council race, fearing for the safety of those close to him, said the threats he faced came from a source “outside Hong Kong” that was more powerful than Beijing’s liaison office or the triads.
In an interview with Next Magazine, Chow said there is no way for local authorities to investigate those behind the threats against him.


“The power does not come from Hong Kong. How can they investigate,” Chow said. “It’s beyond their jurisdiction.”
The Liberal Party Legco aspirant in New Territories West, however, refused to reveal who had threatened him.
Election bombshell: threats and attempted bribery alleged as Hong Kong’s New Territories West Legco candidate drops out of poll race
“I can only say that it’s a very powerful force. The pressure [I face] is far greater than any individual or political party [can impose],” he said.
Chow dropped the bombshell last Thursday during a televised debate that he would stop his campaign, explaining he did not want those close to him to get into “high level troubles”.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption has since launched an investigation into the incident, after several political parties filed complaints.
Following his announcement, Chow released a voice recording from a volunteer who worked for one of his rivals, Beijing-loyalist Junius Ho Kwan-yiu.


In the recording, the man could be heard suggesting to mobilise dozens of people to “chase after” Chow before the election forum, which Ho has since distanced himself from saying he did not know about it.
In the interview, the Liberal Party candidate dismissed suggestions that his withdrawal from the election had anything to do with the recording.
“The political climate in Hong Kong right now is very scary. This could be the last election where there are choices,” he said.
Hong Kong’s Legco candidate Ken Chow urged to come clean on ‘threats’
When asked whether he was worried he would be disappeared, Chow said: “That’s why I would not visit the mainland, Thailand or Myanmar.”
The Liberal Party candidate added that he will return to Hong Kong from the UK after the election.
“If people are still interested, I will open up on the incident after I return,” he said.
On Tuesday, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying called on Chow to clarify his surprise announcement.
The Liberal Party’s honorary chairwoman Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee said they have not been in touch with the New Territories West candidate since he left Hong Kong.


“The case is now in the hands of the ICAC. We hope they can investigate swiftly,” she said.
The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong’s Leung Che-cheung, who is running in the same constituency as Chow, urged the Liberal Party party aspirant to return to Hong Kong to give a full account of the incident, as it is unclear how accurate media reports are.
The DAB candidate also said that, while his supporters will not be affected by the incident, middle ground voters might change their voting preference following the saga.
Ken Chow could not be reached for comment.
For a full list of election candidates, click here.


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Legislative Council elections 2016

Liberal Party member says Legco race exit was due to threats from ‘powerful’ source outside Hong Kong

Ken Chow Wing-kan announced he would stop campaigning for the Legislative Council election last week. Photo: SCMP Pictures

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Ken Chow said there is no way for local authorities to investigate those behind the threats against him, as it is outside their jurisdiction


Liberal Party member says Legco race exit was due to threats from ‘powerful’ source outside Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Ken Chow said there is no way for local authorities to investigate those behind the threats against him, as it is outside their jurisdiction

Ken Chow said there is no way for local authorities to investigate those behind the threats against him, as it is outside their jurisdiction