Hong Kong district council elections: will victories for three openly gay candidates pave the way for improved LGBT rights in the city?
- Jimmy Sham, Kenneth Cheung and Alice Wei became Hong Kong’s first openly gay and lesbian district councillors three weeks ago
- While none of them campaigned on equality issues, they say they hope the results reflect a rise in liberal attitudes at district level
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp was undoubtedly the biggest winner in the city’s recent district council elections, but another traditional underdog also made significant gains – LGBT rights advocates.
Sham took over Lek Yuen in Sha Tin, while Cheung won in rural Tuen Mun, and Wei was victorious in Lei King Wan in Sai Wan Ho.
Their triumphs came as some of the city’s most staunch defenders of traditional relationships and family values – including Holden Chow Ho-ding and Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, and Business and Professionals Alliance’s Priscilla Leung Mei-fun – lost their district council seats.
While Sham, Cheung and Wei said they hoped the results indicated a rise in liberal attitudes at district level, others argued the victories did not reflect increased support for the LGBT sector.