Veteran Hong Kong lawmaker Frederick Fung breaks ranks to contest Kowloon West by-election, threatening pan-dems’ bid to regain veto power in Legco
Despite fellow democrat Lau Siu-lai submitting her nomination papers for the November 25 poll, Fung throws his hat in the ring, upset at the camp’s strategy
Fed up with the pro-democracy camp’s contingency plan for the Kowloon West by-election, veteran lawmaker Frederick Fung Kin-kee broke ranks on Tuesday to announce he would be one of three candidates in the November 25 poll.
The third candidate was Chan Hoi-yan, who announced she would run as an independent. The former political assistant to popular ex-health minister Ko Wing-man was backed by the pro-establishment camp.
This by-election is crucial for the pro-democracy camp. Winning would help it regain veto power in the Legislative Council, where 16 of them represent geographical constituencies, compared with the other side’s 17.
Fung said he threw his hat in the ring as he was unhappy the camp had decided on another veteran, Lee Cheuk-yan, as Lau’s backup, in case election officials do not approve her candidacy.
He pledged to not start campaigning unless Lau was barred. If her candidacy was confirmed, he would bow out of the race.