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Ambrose Leung

The Civic Party may lodge a complaint against Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun after he said the MTR Corporation's chief executive 'has to shoulder the consequences' for nominating a party rival in the district council elections.
Chow Chung-kwong is among those nominating Tanya Chan Suk-chong, who is competing with the Liberal Party's Mark Lin for The Peak seat.
Mr Tien said on Wednesday he was 'very dissatisfied' with Mr Chow, whom he regarded as a friend with similar political ideals. Pointing out the Liberal Party's previous favourable views towards the MTR Corp in Legislative Council  business, Mr Tien said his party would 'take a closer watch' on the rail company in future.
'He should have political wisdom. He has to shoulder the consequences himself,' Mr Tien said on Wednesday.
The Civic Party is considering lodging a formal complaint  with the Electoral Affairs Commission.
Mr Tien said Mr Chow phoned him that  night to apologise, admitted his 'oversight' in not realising Ms Chan's opponent was Mr Lin, and promised not to canvass votes for her.
Yesterday, Mr Tien said that when he said 'take a closer watch', he was only expressing his feelings.
'Which means that in the future anything being discussed in the transport panel or in the district councils ...  then on the district council front, there may be more opinions, since there were times [Liberals]  particularly stood on your side as a personal favour. Now, since it seems you're not that friendly to us any more, then this becomes what I said yesterday, we will 'take a closer watch', as it were.'  He denied his comments amounted to a threat.
But Civic Party legislator Ronny Tong Ka-wah  said Mr Tien was in danger of crossing a line. 'Why should Mr Chow have to apologise? Is it because he fears retribution of some sort?'
Threats to vote, or not vote, a certain way are punishable with fines or imprisonment.
Mr Tong said: 'A normal citizen shouldn't say these things, let alone the leader of a political party.'
The Democratic Party said it may ask  the Independent Commission Against Corruption, which monitors polls,  to step in.  Chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan, said: 'Mr Tien ...  has damaged the fairness of the election by publicly threatening another voter for nominating a candidate.'  Civic Party leader Audrey Eu Yuet-mee   criticised Mr Tien for being 'unrepentant'.



Civic Party considers formal complaint against James Tien