The fledgling pro-democracy groups spawned in the aftermath of the July 1 demonstration tasted the raw experience of election-day politics yesterday. Candidates from one such group, Civic Act-up, could be seen pushing through the busy streets and restaurants of Wan Chai on the final day of the campaign. They admitted they were unable to conduct spectacular campaigns even though they had the support of some pro-democracy legislators including Audrey Eu Yuet-mee and Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee. Cultural critic Mary Ann King Pui-wai, 39, of the Southorn constituency, said she still had the confidence to win, adding that she was not put off by the large crowd of campaigners helping her competitor, Lau Pui-shan. 'Many voters whispered that they had voted for me. I was very touched,' she said. 'I do not think a big number of campaigners are particularly meaningful. I think voters can judge which candidate is better.' Another Civic Act-up member - social worker Cecilia Ho Wing-yin, 28 - said she only had 30 volunteers helping her. Fellow member and social policy academic Jo Lee Wai-yee, of the Happy Valley constituency, said: 'It doesn't matter whether I win or lose. What's more important is whether more people participate in politics. I want to tell them that the district council election has a role in influencing issues like the Article 23 debate.' As for the inexperienced, young candidates from the 71 People's Pile - one of the political groups that sprang up after the July 1 demonstration - the elections were more of a learning experience than anything else. Their youngest candidate, Chan King-fai, admitted that his hope at the end of the day was to get back his $3,000 deposit. To do that, he had to secure at least 5 per cent of the vote. The 21-year-old said he had fewer than 20 active supporters.
