The freshly launched New People's Party is not interested in contesting for grass-roots or public housing constituencies, said chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.
The party was centre-right, she said, and unapologetic about its elitist image. Its board is filled with former senior government officials and business leaders. Its aim is to woo the middle class, professionals and civil servants.
'We are not planning to send anyone to run in constituencies dominated by public housing estates,' Ip said. 'We don't have the resources. Nor do we have the candidates suitable for that kind of community. Most of our candidates are either young or of professional background.
'We are ... focusing on constituencies which are not the traditional strongholds of the DAB or the FTU ,' she said, referring to the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and the Federation of Trade Unions.
Ip said the party would field about a dozen candidates in November's district council elections.
'We are a bit right of centre,' she said of her party's position. That is similar to the stance of the pro-business Liberal Party and Economic Synergy. But Ip said her party was clearly distinct from them.
