HKFTU veteran predicts same results for Kowloon East
Updated: 2016-08-01 07:41
By Joseph Li in Hong Kong(HK Edition)
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Candidate from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions Wong Kwok-kin is on the campaign trail and will be running in the Kowloon East geographical constituency. Parker Zheng / China Daily |
Wong Kwok-kin, a candidate from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU), is hoping to keep his Legislative Council seat for a third consecutive term since 2008.
Running in the Kowloon East geographical constituency of the coming legislative election on Sept 4, Wong thinks the outcome will be the same as last time and the balance of power between pro-establishment and opposition camps will remain unchanged even though competition is keen, with at least 12 teams fighting for only five seats.
While the HKFTU and Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) candidates and incumbent Paul Tse Wai-chun are expected to get elected as last time, the Democratic Party and Civic Party from the opposition camp will also try to retain their seats.
However, Wong points out that there are two uncertainties. First, the DAB and Civic Party are both fielding new candidates to replace the old hands who are stepping down. According to past experience, new candidates normally lose votes because many people vote for a particular person rather than for a political party.
Second, the intentions of first-time voters are unknown though crucial and will affect the result. Moreover, first-time voters do not mean only young people, but also elderly people.
They include those people who have never cast votes before but are strongly incented to turn out because they want their voice heard or are unsatisfied with the status quo of society, Wong added.
Having served as a lawmaker for two terms in Kowloon East, Wong is confident that he will get re-elected again. He says he is not complacent and will be as hardworking as before, knowing that there are one or two candidates from the pro-establishment camp who might take away some of his ballots.
Other candidates who have signed up in Kowloon East constituency are: Tse Wai-chun, Or Chong-shing, Ko Tat-pun, Wu Chi-wai, Chan Chak-to, Wu Sui-shan, Tam Heung-man, Tam Man-ho, Lui Wing-kei, Tam Tak-chi and Wong Yeung-tat.
josephli@chinadailyhk.com
(HK Edition 08/01/2016 page4)