Legco by-election rivals on Hong Kong Island urge ‘safeguarding the rule of law’ … but whose way will win votes?

In the second of a three-part series on the coming by-election, the Post looks at the showdown between Au Nok-hin and Judy Chan Ka-pui in the constituency with the highest income and education levels

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Au Nok-hin is the pro-democracy camp’s backup candidate after Agnes Chow of Demosisto was barred from running. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 7:02am, 27 Feb 2018Updated: 1:13pm, 27 Feb 2018

Two legislative by-election candidates locked in a major showdown to represent the Hong Kong Island constituency may tout opposing political ideologies, but they have put forward the same campaign mantra: “safeguard the city’s rule of law”.

Southern district councillors Au Nok-hin and Judy Chan Ka-pui – endorsed by the pro-democracy and pro-establishment camps respectively – must win support from 623,273 voters who have the highest education levels and incomes across all constituencies in the city.

In the 2016 Legislative Council elections, the pro-democracy camp won 50.8 per cent of Hong Kong Island votes, while businessman Ricky Wong Wai-kay – seen as representing middle-of-the-road voters – received 9 per cent and the pro-establishment camp took 40 per cent.

Creative posters and big names part of campaign for Kowloon West hopefuls in Hong Kong by-election

Analysts expect Au to enjoy an advantage in the by-election, riding a possible surge in “sympathy votes” for the bloc after some of its members were banned from running.

Au and Chan both appeal to middle-class voters with their concerns over the city’s core values, but have different interpretations of similar campaign themes.

“Safeguard the rule of law, revive rationality” is Chan’s slogan. The New People’s Party member accused her rival of being involved in the 2014 Occupy movement, the 79-day civil disobedience campaign that brought parts of the city to a standstill, calling for greater democracy. She also criticised Au’s camp for filibustering in Legco.

Judy Chan wants to ‘revive rationality’. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

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