Hong Kong No 2 official faces boycott from at least half of district councils after pro-democracy camp slams meeting as political show

Mass snub expected of Matthew Cheung’s bid to open relations between the government and the city’s new councillors

Pan-democrats, who took control of almost all district councils in last year’s seismic elections, accuse senior official of window dressing

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Matthew Cheung, who serves as Carrie Lam’s deputy, is likely to see his invitation to open relations with councillors widely rebuffed by pro-democracy politicians. Photo: May Tse

Published: 9:41pm, 4 Jan 2020Updated: 11:02pm, 4 Jan 2020

At least nine district councils held by the pro-democracy bloc in Hong Kong have vowed to boycott a meeting with the city’s No 2 official, slamming his invitation as a political show.

Pan-democrats took control of 17 out of 18 districts in elections last November, in an overhaul of the city’s political landscape that saw the opposition win 392 of 452 seats and impose a humiliating defeat on their pro-establishment rivals.

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said Friday’s scheduled meeting with all the newly elected councillors was standard practice following the start of the new term of office for councillors on New Year’s Day.

“We will open relations between the district councils and government departments and explore room for cooperation,” Cheung said on Saturday, adding several ministers would attend.

“That’s the beginning of our communication. I hope more councillors will attend.”

However, responses from the pan-democrats left Cheung’s vision in tatters.

Pro-democracy bloc members of nine district councils have made clear they would snub the meeting. Three political parties — the Democratic Party, Civic Party and Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood — also declared they would join the boycott.