With extra votes comes greater responsibility
Pan-democrats contesting the functional constituency seats are increasingly appealing to voters to follow their conscience, asking: do you use that privileged, extra vote merely to safeguard your own interests? Or do you use that extra, privileged vote for the public interest?
Yesterday, pan-democrats running for trades-based Legco seats, Stanley Ng Wing-fai, Albert Lai Kwong-tak and Charles Mok Nai-kwong, launched a 'declaration of new professional core values'. One of three values listed is commitment to the public interest. They cited the Kai Tak cruise terminal, saying industry suffered after the government ignored the public interest through its poor consultation in calling for tenders.
Candidates pay lip service with gusto
What is a candidate to do when asked to chant slogans with a group of poor Sham Shui Po residents criticising the government and calling for rent controls? That was the question yesterday for nine West Kowloon candidates who participated in a discussion panel on inflation and cubicle homes.
Everyone, from the Liberal Party's Michael Tien Puk-sun to the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong's Chan Wai-ming, did as they were requested - with fists in the air. Nevertheless, they were criticised by the Democratic Party's James To Kun-sun for being disingenuous, as they did not support a rent-control policy. Mr Chan replied that his party would investigate the issue, saying that chanting allowed him to 'feel what the residents were feeling'. Mr Tien did not reply to Mr To's remarks - as the question was addressed to Mr Chan.
Teeth bared in the Beijing-friendly camp