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Hong KongPolitics

Another blow for moderate politics in Hong Kong as academic quits think tank

Political scientist says Path of Democracy think tank has become too much like a party

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Academic Ray Yep (left) with Path of Democracy founder Ronny Tong. Photo: Nora Tam
Tony CheungandGary Cheung

City University political scientist Ray Yep Kin-man has quit the Path of Democracy, the latest in a series of high-profile resignations that have plagued the middle-of-the-road think tank.

The group was co-founded by former Civic Party legislator Ronny Tong Ka-wah to seek a “third road” in Hong Kong’s politics and to push for electoral reform to achieve popular ballot for the city’s leader.

Yep’s departure raises questions about whether there is room for moderate groups to thrive in a politically divided society like Hong Kong.

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“I think the Path of Democracy is moving towards a quasi political party or group. And my interest is always about think tank development,” Yep told the South China Morning Post on Wednesday.

“I still see the merit of the strategy of engaging Beijing and the relevance of moderate politics.”

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Yep, associate head of the university’s department of public policy, was formerly the think tank’s co-convenor (research).

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