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SCMP Reporter

OF ALL the seats to be contested on September 18, it is the small constituency of Kowloon Tong that has attracted the most attention.

  The Liberal Party's appointed legislator Steven Poon Kwok-lim has chosen this middle-class constituency as the testing ground not just for his future political career but also for the fledgling party.

  The four other legislators contesting the district board elections are incumbents riding on the back of victories in previous polls.

  However, for Mr Poon it is different: as the first and only Liberal Party legislator to sign up for the district board elections, he has inevitably become the focus of media attention.

  But the appointed member has so far done his best to shun the press, repeatedly rejecting journalists' requests to accompany him on the campaign trail, to the point where he has claimed their presence could cause him to lose the seat.

  However, the Sunday Morning Post managed to join Mr Poon during one door-to-door canvassing session at Broadcast Drive in Kowloon Tong, although the camera-shy legislator refused to allow photographs to be taken.

  Mr Poon often introduced himself to voters with the defensive: ''Hi! I'm legislator Steven Poon, the one often being condemned by the public.'' And when it came to closing lines, he had straightforward advice: ''If you don't support me, please do not go to the polling station, you don't need to cast your vote.''   With no previous experience of district affairs, he is trying to convince voters that it is his knowledge of the area that counts.

  ''I have lived in Kowloon Tong for more than 20 years and just moved out of this area for a year. Now I'm coming back and running for election,'' he told residents who opened their doors to him.

  At a press conference to launch his campaign, Mr Poon claimed to know every ''blade of grass'' in the constituency.

  But Mr Poon's pledge to get closer to the grass roots has yet to be tested: he has yet to visit Hau Wong Temple New Village, the largest squatter area in his constituency.

  ''I know the situation of that squatter area perfectly,'' he said. ''It's a total mess and those who claim they have served that area should be ashamed - I can do much better.''   But the Mutual Assistance Committee of the Hau Wong Temple New village rejects Mr Poon's claims and has decided to support rival candidate Ho Hin-ming, who it claims has done much to help residents improve the environment in the squatter area in the past.

  Woo Chup-on, vice-chairman of the Mutual Assistance Committee of Hau Wong Temple New Village, was not even aware of Mr Poon's candidature until he was told by the Sunday Morning Post last week.

 DESPITE Mr Poon's attack on Mr Ho's work, local residents praised Mr Ho, and said it was unlikely Mr Poon would get much support.

  ''We don't know Mr Poon, we only recognise him from television or newspapers, we have never met him in this district,'' Mr Woo said.

  ''But Mr Ho adopted a pragmatic attitude, like accompanying us to deal with the Urban Council, improving our living environment, helping us to apply for the elderly card.

  ''I have no idea what Mr Poon has ever done for our district nor his working attitude, so how can I support him?'' Mr Woo said.

  ''We don't like political parties either. They only work in their own interests, not actually solving our problems.''   Mr Poon's decision to stand for the district board poll also puzzled Mr Woo.

  ''Why did he suddenly downgrade himself from a legislator to a district board member? A legislator would have more power and be able to meet more senior government officials,'' Mr Woo said.

  ''I think 'downgrade' is not a suitable word. The job of the district board member is more specific,'' Mr Poon said.

  Ex-Liberal Party member Mervyn Cheung Man-ping, who is fighting Mr Poon in Kowloon Tong, is confident of winning, although he is not as well-known.

  ''To be a district board member, it's better to be living in that area with experience in handling district-wide affairs. Mr Poon is an appointed legislator, his local contacts are practically non-existent in this area,'' Mr Cheung said.

  The other legislators fighting seats are appointed legislator Peggy Lam Pei Yu-dja in Southorn, Wan Chai; United Democrats member Dr Huang Chen-ya in Wah Fu 2, Aberdeen; Albert Chan Wai-yip in Fuk Loi, Tsuen Wan; and Meeting Point member Zachary Wong Wai-yin in Nam Ping, Yuen Long. Although Mrs Lam is also facing strong competition, she is confident of keeping her seat on the Wan Chai District Board.



Poon plays high stakes for small constituency