Henderson Land Development Executive Director Augustine Wong Ho-ming entered the Legislative Council race for the Real Estate and Construction constituency on Thursday, setting up a contest with the Business and Professionals Alliance's (BPA) Howard Chao.
Wong's nomination was backed by prominent industry figures, including Real Estate Developers Association executive committee chairman Stewart Leung Chi-kin and president Keith Graham Kerr, Executive Director of Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) Adam Kwok Kai-fai and veteran lawmaker Louis Loong Hon-biu.
Acknowledging the need for new representatives from the industry, Wong revealed his decision came after encouragement from sector peers and drew on his decades of property development experience.
Regarding the number of nominations he has received, Wong only mentioned having "a few friends" supporting him but declined to provide specific details.
Wong emphasized his deep understanding of both the industry and government operations as key advantages, pledging to effectively communicate sector concerns to authorities.
Addressing potential conflicts of interest as a company representative, he pointed to his reputation for fairness and LegCo's robust declaration system, adding that media scrutiny provides additional oversight.
Kwok praised Wong for his fairness and familiarity with the industry development and government, expressing strong support for his candidacy.
Kwok emphasized the election's significance, noting that policies from the Northern Metropolis to retirement protection would affect every citizen's quality of life. He confirmed that SHKP would actively encourage staff and families to vote on December 7.
With the departure of lawmaker Loong, the seat in the Real Estate and Construction constituency is shaping up to be competitive, particularly with Southern District Councillor Howard Chao also in the running.
