A FORMER core member of the Liberal Party yesterday said she resigned because the party was not carrying out its promises. Ada Wong Ying-kay, speaking for the first time since she quit last week, said she still believed in the party's moderate, economic-led approach to improving people's livelihood. 'But I just don't see the party implementing what is stated in the platform,' she said. The party's position on public issues was often based on the views of individual members who did not necessarily follow the party platform. 'The party has a mechanism and proper procedures to come up with decisions on its stance and policy, but such decisions change just because of some people's subjective views,' she said. Ms Wong gave the appeal court issue as an example. She said the public would think the party did not have a clear stance on the controversial issue because different people in the party gave different opinions instead of following the party line. Ms Wong, who ran its unsuccessful district board election campaign in September, said the party should work to win more seats in the three tiers of political structure. It should participate fully in elections, including direct elections. The party is believed to be concentrating on the functional constituency elections in the next year's Legislative Council polls. 'A party should be accountable to the voters and protect the overall interests of Hong Kong,' Ms Wong said. 'I don't see any conflict between functional constituency elections and direct elections. 'You cannot on one hand say you support freedom and democracy, but on the other hand say you don't support popular elections.' She said the party would close some district offices, but declined to comment on how many or which ones. 'The Liberal Party made a lot of promises to the voters during the district board elections, and it should be very careful when deciding on the closure of the district offices. They are the channels to get voters' views and implement the party's promises.' Ms Wong dismissed allegations she had spent too much money on election materials during the district board elections. 'Every single item of the electoral expenses was scrutinised and approved by the party's central standing committee and there are regulations in the electoral ordinance,' she said. Party leader Allen Lee Peng-fei, said that although he regretted Ms Wong's resignation, he was confident the 1,400-member party would not be badly hurt. 'The Liberal Party will not lapse even if I, as chairman, quit. Those people sharing the same aims will go on running the party,' he said. Another central committee member, legislator James Tien Pei-chun, rejected claims there had been a damaging withdrawal of core members. 'The core members of the party are only the 15 Legislative Council members and till now, none of them have expressed any indication to leave,' he said. Mr Tien said the party would not prevent members speaking on its behalf. But although more members might be forced to withdraw after the party tightened controls, many more might join.
