‘I’ll be back’, vows veteran Hong Kong district councillor after shock loss to Occupy-inspired candidate
Pro-Beijing Christopher Chung plans to run again, and about 50 supporters of pan-democrat Chui Chi-kin pop champagne outside rival’s office
A newly-defeated pro-Beijing veteran district councillor has told his critics that he will “be back” and seek to regain his seat in the Eastern District Council in 2019.
Christopher Chung Shu-kan, from the Beijing-loyalist Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, was defeated by the relatively unknown independent pan-democrat Chui Chi-kin in Yue Wan constituency on Sunday, where he served for 24 years since 1991. Chui was regarded as an ‘Umbrella soldier’ – a candidate inspired by the 79-day Occupy protests last year.
The outspoken pro-Beijing veteran’s defeat shocked his party colleagues, but about 100 supporters of his rival threw a party outside Chung’s district office in Yue Wan Estate in Chai Wan last night to rub salt into his wound. They sang festive songs and opened a bottle of champagne.
READ MORE: Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing veteran Christopher Chung Shu-kun blames election defeat on first-time voters
When asked about the party on a DBC radio programme this morning, Chung said: “I thank them for the ‘encouragement’. I will stand up from where I fell and I’ll be back … I will continue to serve my constituents because I represent Hong Kong Island in the Legislative Council.”
But political commentators raised questions after Chung’s defeat, suggesting the pro-Beijing camp could ask him to give up his seat in the Legco poll next September and let someone else have a go.
Chung admitted he feel pressured to keep his seat: “My party’s chairwoman (Starry Lee Wai-king) was right: those who lost have to improve their work … I will seek [the party’s] endorsement of my bid for re-election, so I will improve, get prepared and show that I am more popular than other potential candidates.”
