Hong Kong Democrats lose 59 members after row over district council elections
- Mass resignations include at least five district councillors from New Territories East
- Internecine conflict stems from members’ perceived conflicts of interest
Hong Kong’s biggest pro-democracy party suffered a historic loss of headcount on Wednesday when 59 members resigned en masse, after a row over the upcoming district council elections.
And leaders of the exodus warned the 700-strong Democratic Party that a dozen more were considering following them out of the door.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, 11 of the leavers said they quit because of Democratic legislator Lam Cheuk-ting, who accused them of having conflicts of interest because they joined concern groups that would compete with the party in the polls next year.
“We have witnessed Lam’s despicable character, and his lack of political ethics,” the statement read.
As the party’s central leadership did not address the issues, they said, they had no option but to leave.
We have witnessed Lam [Cheuk-ting]’s despicable character, and his lack of political ethics
Three other Democrats co-signed another statement, which brought the number of known leavers to 14, including at least five district councillors from New Territories East.