6 pro-establishment hopefuls given green light to run in by-election to fill 4 seats in Hong Kong legislature

At least six pro-establishment hopefuls, mostly professionals, have been given Beijing’s blessing to run in a by-election before Christmas to fill four seats in Hong Kong’s legislature vacated by those who joined the government, the Post has learned.

Gary Wong Chi-him, a public affairs and marketing director, and William Wong Kam-fai, an engineering professor from Chinese University, were the first to sign up for the race with the backing of pro-Beijing heavyweights on Wednesday, more than a week after the nomination period opened on November 1.

Other aspirants also on the list were business heavyweight Shang Hailong, managing director of SenseTime Hong Kong, the city’s first hi-tech unicorn, as well as New People’s Party member Adrian Ho, the nephew of former Macau leader Edmund Ho Hau-wah, and who once ran the now-defunct pro-government Facebook group Save HK.

Only a handful of hopefuls were allowed to run as the central government sought to avoid “hostile infighting” in the pro-establishment bloc, said a source familiar with Beijing’s thinking. But it would be highly unlikely for mainland Chinese officials to indicate their last-minute preference of candidates to the 1,446 voters, all members of the Election Committee, the person added.

The committee elects 40 seats of the 90-strong legislature and the chief executive.

Another insider also said a “free fight” would be allowed among the candidates.

Multiple sources confirmed to the Post that Beijing on Tuesday night approved a list comprising six hopefuls – mostly professionals and none from the opposition or middle-of-the-road party – to run for the four seats vacated by lawmakers who took up ministerial posts or other senior roles in the December 18 poll.