Unrest tops agenda as councils begin

A working group focusing on the fugitive bill-induced unrest has been established at Sai Kung district council, one of the first to meet after the new term started this month.

Two pro-democracy councillors, Ben Chung Kam-lun of the Neo Democrats and Francis Chau Yin-ming, were elected as chairman and vice-chairman of the council without competition yesterday.

"I believe every councillor here sits in the district council bearing the burden of residents' expectations," Chung said.

"I hope that this term of council can have a closer liaison with residents and the community."

The motion of establishing a standing working group on the anti-fugitive bill movement was also passed in the meeting, with Fung Kwan-on of the Neo Democrats, and Cheung Wai-chiu of TKO Pioneers, to serve as convener and vice-convener.

Neo Democrats' councillor Gary Fan Kwok-wai supported forming the working group, saying that Tseung Kwan O is one of the districts that has seen a large number of people arrested, while police have fired large amounts of tear gas in the area.

But councillors had different opinions on whether the working group's terms of reference should include "five demands, not one less."

"The district council had a motion about the anti-fugitive bill events before, and police representatives had left the meeting room during that period of time [when discussing the motion]," Neo Democrats councillor Lui Man-kwong said.

"Even if you only write 'anti-fugitive bill' [in the terms of reference], it's highly possible that [police] will not attend the meeting," he added.

However, council members still voted to list "five demands, not one less" among the group's terms of reference.

They also agreed to set up seven committees to deal with issues like housing and transportation, but all committees will not have co-opted members.

The Central and Western district council also had its first meeting of the new term yesterday.

Two Democratic Party's members Cheng Lai-king and Victor Yeung Sui-yin were elected chairwoman and vice-chairman.

Cheng, representing the 14 pan-democratic district councillors, read out a statement to promise residents that they will improve livelihood, fight for five demands, and to condemn police brutality.

They also observed a moment of silence to remember those who have died during the anti-fugitive bill movement.

Separately, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong has set up a body of "district council observers," saying they will monitor the work of newly elected councilors across 18 districts to ensure councillors are using public money correctly, and are conducting their duties in accordance with the Basic Law and other relevant legislation.