Democrats to hear public views on future in Legco

The Democratic Party will carry out a public opinion poll to decide on whether to stay in the Legislative Council or boycott, during the one-year transition.

The National People’s Congress standing committee decided to extend the terms of incumbent lawmakers for a year, and the pro-democracy camp has remained undecided on whether to stay on while they oppose a postponement of Legco elections.

The party said it will commission an independent and credible institution to carry out a public opinion poll.

Wu Chi-wai, chairman of the party, said his party has expressed that it should stay in Legco to maintain their battlefront in the council, such as delaying controversial bills and monitoring the use of public funds.

During the discussion with other members, he also found that everyone valued the basis of public opinion and decided to make judgments through polls.

He said views have been exchanged among the pro-democracy camp, and for the time being, only the Democratic Party will take part in the public opinion poll. He believes that other parties will seek consensus with a “harmonious but different” attitude.

Fellow member of the party, lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting pointed out that the recent disputes over whether to stay on have caused cracks in the hard-earned unity of the democrats in the past year. 

He added that the Democratic Party does not want the cracks to deepen, and believes that the disputes must be resolved through the people’s choice.