First-time election candidate in Hong Kong's Discovery Bay development calls for more moderate approach
First-time candidate calls for more moderate approach to local disputes as incumbent vows to fight against 'monopoly' of developer HKRI
A first-time runner is offering an alternative to voters in upmarket Discovery Bay to test his "moderate win-win approach" in the November 22 election.
Issues regarding ferry services and the management of developer HKR International (HKRI) are at the heart of two contestants' campaigns for the seat in the Discovery Bay constituency of the Islands district council.
Discovery Bay, on northeastern Lantau, is HKRI's flagship property in Hong Kong and was the first development project by the group. Covering an area of 649 hectares, it is a resort-style residential project comprising villas, low-, mid- and high-rise residential developments. There is also a 27-hole golf course, a private man-made beach and community facilities.
About 18,000 people live in Discovery Bay.
Civic Party incumbent Amy Yung Wing-sheung, who is seeking a fifth term, pledged to continue the fight against the "monopoly" of HKRI. Her main rival Francis Chiu Tak-wai said he would seek a "moderate" approach. There is a third candidate - Jimmy Hu Ziliang, a 23-year-old IT expert and app developer.
Chiu said: "I am not suggesting HKRI has done perfectly. But our incumbent councillor has seemed to resort only to noisy protests to confront the developer. There have been ceaseless noisy protests against this and that over the years. But it feels like we have not won a single battle and the residents have been led nowhere.