I VOTED for the United Democrats in 1991. With hindsight, I realise now I made a mistake. Their land-slide victory in 1991 put China on the defensive and made the road to a smooth transition more difficult. Without the democratic triumph in 1991, Britain would have thought twice before she changed policy from a more submissive approach towards China, thus averting the clashes of the past few years.
Now most of the political stars in the Democratic Party are isolated by China and, as a result, the community is polarised. What effect this will have on our stability and prosperity is yet to be seen. Locally educated and brought up in a capitalist environment, I believe as long as we devote ourselves to making money, it does not make much difference who wins. It is a pity so many Hong Kongers with similar backgrounds have left over the years.
I voted for the Democratic Party in the recent election and will be compelled to vote for them again this September. I vote for the Democratic Party not because I share their views. In fact, on many controversial issues such as capital punishment and pension schemes for elderly, I disagree with them. I vote for the Democratic Party because I want to learn a lesson. I want to see how those democrats will be pulled down from the train.
I want to know if they will sustain injuries and to what extent. I want to see if they can hold their own ground and for how long. Their future after 1997 is the test of the wind for my own direction.
I write to appeal for votes for the Democratic Party because I still hope they will be a success. If they continue to sit on their laurels and behave in such a manner that carried them to the Governor's house in 1991, they are bound to fail. And if they can not secure a victory comparable to 1991, the political stars will become irrelevant and an invaluable lesson will be learnt by all.
K. M. HUNG Taikoo Shing