Pan-dem councilors' banners draw ire

The Home Affairs Department should deduct subsidies from district councilors who hang government-smearing banners, a concern group has urged.

The District Councils Observers said it spotted more than 80 banners that smeared the government and spread misleading information last month.

At a press conference yesterday, the group slammed pro-democracy district councilors for smearing the government for political gain.

Tsuen Wan district councilor Kot Siu-yuen from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Union said the pro-democracy camp has spread criticism against the government, regardless of the authorities' efforts to improve people's livelihoods.

"The government has done a good job in improving residents' livelihood," Kot said. "But [pro-democracy councilors] never gave a word of praise."

Sham Shui Po district councilor and the convener of the group, Nicole Lau Pui-yuk, said the group has received multiple complaints regarding those banners.

"District councilors have their designated duties, so their conduct should be regulated," Lau said.

Lau appealed to the Home Affairs Department to deduct subsidies from those who hang such banners and criticized the Lands Department for failing to vet the banners.

But Civic Party district councilor Andy Lao Ka-hang, whose banner about the 12 detained Hongkongers was among those criticized, said the banners' content were issues Hongkongers cared about.

"The content of the banners reflects residents' doubt regarding the government," Lao said, adding that banners about controversial incidents would increase public discussion.

"I believe public discussion is always beneficial to society. If some people try to prevent their opponents from expressing their views, I think they are the ones who are doing the wrong thing."