Promise of democracy in new district council polls 'upheld'

Michael Shum

Beijing did not overturn its promise of democracy to Hong Kong people by revamping district council elections, Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, has claimed.

At the district administration seminar yesterday, Lau urged the SAR to be more proactive in rebutting Western countries' criticisms that the district council electoral system reform doubled back on democracy.

"When you are trying to reform the district councils, [Western countries] will naturally think that the promises on Hong Kong's democratic development are being broken and the city is moving towards totalitarian rule," Lau said.

"I think I have to make it clear that the district council reform this time is not an attempt to overturn the promises on the city's democratic development by creating something new, but returning the district council to the responsibility, power and election method stipulated in the one country, two systems principle and the Basic Law."

Lau brushed off claims that the absence of non-pro-establishment candidate contradicted Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong's 2021 comments.

Xia had said in 2021 that the revamped electoral system should still keep a diverse and pluralistic political environment.

"According to my understanding, director Xia meant a diverse and pluralistic environment within the patriotic camp," Lau said.

Democratic Party chairman Lo Kin-hei said the party had planned to send six candidates to run in the election, but failed to secure sufficient nominations, adding the result was within his expectations.

"It's a pity that my party members cannot express different opinions in the district council," Lo said, adding that the new electoral system makes it hard to get nominations.

But the party has been under financial pressure over the past three years and will consider downsizing its work, he said.

Centrist Party Third Side chairman Tik Chi-yuen, who originally planned to field two candidates but fielded none at the end, said he can finally feel the "temperature of the water" as the frog is in the pot.

"Response from the members of the three district committees to nominate Third Side members was quite positive, and we were confident of securing sufficient nominations to enter the election," Tik said.

"I started feeling that the [committee] members started to take a wait-and-see approach, and even my best friends told me that they cannot nominate Third Side members for now," he added.

Tik also said he does not feel left out, as members of the three district committees allowed more people into the race from different political spectrums after confirming that they are patriots.

"It is never easy to go the centrist route, but after getting support from the community, I think Third Side's position is appropriate," he added.

Roundtable lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun has suggested the government should amend the law, adding at least half of the three committee members should be individuals with no political connections.

But Tik said it is hard to tell whether a person has political affiliations, as members are usually tied to political parties, but they should avoid bringing party interests into the nomination process.