Pro-establishment supporters accused of dirty tricks in Hong Kong by-election after elderly voters are escorted to polling stations
- Labour Party candidate Lee Cheuk-yan says rivals are ‘doing whatever it takes’ to win
- But opposition’s Chan Hoi-yan denies knowing anything about it
The pro-democracy candidate in the tight by-election in Kowloon West has accused his rival of “employing dirty tricks” in the battle for a seat in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council.
Labour Party stalwart Lee Cheuk-yan made the claim on Sunday after pro-government volunteers were spotted taking elderly voters in Sham Shui Po to a nearby polling station to cast their ballots.
But, pro-establishment candidate Chan Hoi-yan distanced herself from the issue, and said the service would have been offered “because senior citizens need it”.
In previous elections in the city, pro-establishment groups hired a variety of vehicles to take elderly people from their homes to polling stations for free. Those groups argued they were just helping voters, but pan-democrats questioned whether it was lawful, and whether the elderly were being manipulated.
Coaches were not seen on Sunday, but help was offered on a smaller scale.