Tong four look for push from neutral base

One-fifth of eligible voters will be needed if candidates taking "the third way" are to make it into the Legislative Council, says Path of Democracy convener Ronny Tong Ka-wah.

Tong told The Standard his think tank will recommend four candidates to run in the election on December 19 - but he has no intention to run.

Maxine Yao Jie-ning, Allan Wong Wing-ho and Jeffrey Chan Chun-hung are hoping to run in geographical constituencies, while Angel Daley Mak Hing-fun aims to feature for the legal sector functional constituency.

Tong, an Election Committee member and former legislator, said all candidates are worried about the voter turnout as it is a new electoral system and he does not think anyone can predict the voter turnout.

There are over 4.4 million on the provisional voters' register. "In our minds, our target will be attracting around 20 percent of voters to vote for us," Tong said. "Then we will have a chance."

He said candidates recommended by his think tank are appealing to all Hongkongers for support, but their target voters are those who are politically neutral.

"We understand die-hard pro-establishment supporters might not be interested in us nor die-hard radical supporters," Tong said. "Our previous surveys found over half of Hongkongers are politically neutral. They will be our biggest voter base."

The probability of winning will depend on how much Hongkongers want two-party politics, Tong said, adding that his candidates will not be imitating the pro-democracy camp.

They will be taking the third way, which Tong says will find the balance in every issue - sometimes aligning with the pro-establishment camp and sometimes with the pro-democracy camp.

"Compared to the pro-establishment camp we will stress more on Hongkongers' core values, our freedom and the uniqueness of our society," Tong said.

"On the other hand, we will focus more on the importance of China's constitution and complying with the requirements under the Basic Law, national security and the importance of fighting for democracy under a stable society.

"As to our ultimate objective, we hope to fight for the most amount of room to develop democracy under one country, two systems and the Basic Law."

Tong also hopes there will be fewer candidates launching smear campaigns.

Candidates should be introducing their political philosophy to attract voters rather than pointing fingers, Tong said.

Yao, a surveyor hoping to run in Hong Kong West constituency, said she has been doing community work since 2014 and hopes to bring a rational voice to the legislature. "I am hoping to defend Hongkongers' core values including the rule of law, human rights, democracy and freedom," she said.

For barrister Daley, 2019 was a wake-up call for her as the mother of three saw teenagers "blindly taking to the streets."

This prompted Daley to focus on education apart from the benefits of the legal sector.

"I do not mind being the bridge between the Bar Association and Beijing once I get elected," she said.

Wong, a director of a recycling firm who hopes to run in New Territories North, said he will focus on environmental protection. "I hope to promote a green economy and establish a carbon emission trading mechanism in the Greater Bay Area," he said.

Chan, director of a health technology company hoping to run in Kowloon East, aims to set up a system to manage citizens' medical records.

"I would also want secondary students to have the opportunity to experience the Greater Bay Area themselves when they are in secondary three and four rather than hearing it from someone else."

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com