Urban Councillor and solicitor Ada Wong Ying-kay last night failed to secure a seat on the Law Society's council.
At its annual general meeting, Ms Wong - the youngest of nine candidates - got 356 votes, of which 224 were proxy votes.
Last night, her nominator, society president Christopher Chan Cheuk, said he had asked her to withdraw two weeks ago.
'She has not served on any of the committees in our council before. I felt . . . her chance is not high.
'Frankly speaking, as a public figure, what one fears most is losing in an election,' Mr Chan said, referring to her being an elected urban councillor.
He said he did not know Ms Wong until two weeks ago. Asked why he had nominated Ms Wong, he said: 'With a passion to join [the council], of course I welcome her.