Dead end for Hong Kong democracy, so focus on social policies now, new Labour Party head says
Steven Kwok takes top post of 200-member pro-democracy group seeking new ideas and fresh blood
Hong Kong’s road to greater democracy has come to a dead end for now and pan-democrats should shift their focus to call for better policies improving people’s livelihoods and safeguarding human rights, the Labour Party’s new chairman said on Sunday.
Steven Kwok Wing-kin, 30, was the only candidate running for the top post in the six-year-old party, which aims to serve the city’s low-income residents including workers and the underprivileged.
He succeeded Suzanne Wu Sui-shan, who surprisingly quit as head of the 200-strong party over an internal disagreement in August.
Hong Kong Labour Party chair makes surprise departure over internal disagreement
“The past democracy movement followed the timetable set by Beijing ... Now it is clear that Beijing is not sincere in allowing us to enjoy universal suffrage,” Kwok said.
Now it is clear that Beijing is not sincere in allowing us to enjoy universal suffrage
However, Kwok said there was still much work ahead for pan-democrats.
“Every battlefield including the areas of livelihood and human rights is important,” he said. “As a political party, we have to tell the public how we can make Hong Kong a better place, besides fighting for democracy.”