Candidates make final bid for votes as Kowloon West by-election goes down to the wire
- Labour Party’s Lee Cheuk-yan paints election as battle between democracy and the government
- But rival Chan Hoi-yan describes herself as the pragmatic and rational choice
Candidates from across Hong Kong’s political divide have ramped up their campaigning ahead of Sunday’s by-election showdown, making final appeals for support from half a million voters in Kowloon West.
Labour Party stalwart Lee Cheuk-yan, who is being endorsed by the pan-democratic camp, urged voters to make their voices heard, while Chan Hoi-yan of the pro-establishment camp posted a video appealing to voters.
After the Legislative Council election in 2016, a total of six pro-democracy lawmakers were ousted for improper oath-taking. By-elections were held in March this year to fill four of the seats, as two legislators – Leung Kwok-hung and Lau Siu-lai – decided to appeal.
Lau dropped her appeal in May, triggering this by-election in Kowloon West, but has been barred from running after calling for self-determination in the city.
“Now we critically appeal for all families and friends to unify and vote for me,” Lee said. “This is a battle between democracy and the government. Please stay united and we shall win.”