Legco losses for veteran pan-democrats signal end of era
New political climate prioritises localism over grassroots interests, observer says
Four pan-democratic veterans are preparing to exit Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, making way for young localists advocating greater self-determination for the city.
Wong Yuk-man, of Proletariat Political Institute, was defeated by Youngspiration’s Yau Wai-ching in the battle for the sixth and last seat in Kowloon West, it was announced by the Electoral Affairs Commission.
Labour Party’s Lee Cheuk-yan was ousted from New Territories West, where Cheng Chung-tai of Civic Passion is poised to succeed him.
And Lee’s colleague Cyd Ho Sau-lan lost in Hong Kong Island, where Demosisto’s Nathan Law Kwun-chung triumphed.
Watch: big wins for pro-democracy camp
Conceding defeat, Lee said Dr Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung would be the Labour Party’s sole representative in Legco.
Lee has focused on labour rights, while Ho and Cheung have respectively made their names championing the rights of sexual minorities and the disabled.
“How could one person handle so many issues?” he asked of what awaited Cheung in the chamber. “We need to figure out how to handle losing seats as it also means a huge reduction in our resources and community network.”
“But most importantly, it is because all of society wants to see change and new faces,” he said.
Also losing in New Territories West was Frederick Fung Kin-kee, of the Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood. His departure would mean his party, focusing on grassroots interests, would no longer be represented in Legco.
Lee Pang-kwong, a political scientist at Lingnan University, said the results showed pan-democrats’ supporters had opted for localism.
“The supporters are more attracted to the idea of self-determination, universal values and sustainable development with local agriculture,” he said.
