Democratic Party expels 2 members for breaking ranks by backing centrist candidate in Hong Kong’s revamped legislative poll
- Party ejects vice-chairwoman Edith Leung and member So Yat-hang for supporting Jason Poon in his unsuccessful run for seat
- Cracks in ranks of city’s largest opposition party began to appear last year as members debated whether to take any role in overhauled election process
The party’s central committee voted on Wednesday night to eject vice-chairwoman Edith Leung Yik-ting and member So Yat-hang for supporting Jason Poon Chuk-hung in his unsuccessful bid as a centrist candidate.
A source previously told the Post the pair were at the centre of an internal inquiry by the party’s disciplinary committee, which last month also handed a six-month suspension to veteran member and former lawmaker Fred Li Wah-ming after he backed former colleague Tik Chi-yuen, the only candidate outside the pro-establishment bloc to win a seat.
The decision by Leung, So and Li to back candidates was met with complaints from other party members. Chairman Lo Kin-hei said that while the party had given approval for some members to endorse candidates, the three were not among them.
Explaining the decision to expel Leung and So, Lo said they were party leaders, yet neither took part in the internal probe, disrespecting the process and the organisation’s charter. But Li had complied with the investigation, and given his contributions to the party over the years, his penalty was suspended, Lo said.
The Post has reached out to Leung and So for comments.