Civic approach: Hong Kong pan-democrat parties reach out to localist election winners

Civic Party and Democratic Party say they are willing to work with all pro-democracy forces and urge Beijing to heed voters’ choices in Legislative Council polls

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Civic Party leader Alan Leong and newly returned lawmaker Tanya Chan discuss the election results. Photo: David Wong

Published: 4:15pm, 6 Sep 2016Updated: 11:29pm, 6 Sep 2016

Two major pan-democratic parties say they are willing to work with all pro-democracy forces in the newly elected legislature, including localists who advocate self-determination.

The Democratic Party and Civic Party, which have 13 seats in the new-look Legislative Council, also say Beijing should respond to Hong Kong voters’ choices and get rid of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying as soon as possible.

At a press conference on Tuesday morning, the Civic Party’s Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, re-elected in New Territories East, said his party would extend an olive branch to other lawmakers in the pro-democracy camp, including localists.

“We may not be taking exactly the same path in politics, but when it comes to livelihood issues and issues that are of major public interest, I believe every legislator would be able to collaborate in some way,” Yeung said.

Outgoing lawmaker and party head Alan Leong Kah-kit said the new pan-democrat camp, with many young faces, would need to find a way to collaborate.

“The weekly lunch meetings among pan-democrats are a thing of the past now,” Leong said. “The camp should work out a new mode and consider whether a communication platform is necessary.” Leong urged Beijing to respond to the high 58 per cent turnout rate on Sunday.

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