NPP’s Chan sees poll as showdown with radicals
HK Island candidate optimistic as public becomes disillusioned with opposition’s negative tactics
The Legislative Council byelection in the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency next month will be a “stern battle” as the major “pan-democrat” candidates hold relatively radical stances, New People’s Party candidate Judy Chan Kapui said.
Chan aspires to “bring Hong Kong back on the right track” if she wins the March 11 election.
Having seen the illegal “Occupy Central” protests, Mong Kok riot and a lack of discipline in LegCo over the years, Chan said it is time for Hong Kong people to safeguard the rule of law and return to their senses.
Chan is a Southern District councilor. In 2014, she first won her seat as a novice, beating two other candidates from the opposition camp. She retained her seat the next year, winning more than 2,900 votes and defeating a familiar opponent.
In 2016, she contested her first LegCo election and took second place on a Hong Kong Island geographical constituency ticket led by NPP head Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.
In this by-election, she runs alone on a winner-takes-all basis.
“I hope to win the by-election so that I can secure an additional seat for the pro-establishment camp,” she said in the interview, despite admitting the pro-establishment camp has never won a by-election before.
“The (social-political) atmosphere has changed this time around. After so many things have happened, many citizens long for stability and prosperity,” she noted.
“This gives me greater confidence and I hope people who are not too interested in elections will come out this time to vote for me. I think I stand a chance whoever my election opponents are.”
Other candidates contesting the island by-election are Au Nok-hin, Edward Yum Lianghsien and Ng Dick-hay.
Au has been on the same district council as Chan for about four years. “From what I know of him, he has radical political stances,” Chan said, given his past involvement in such political groups as Left 21 and Civil Human Rights Front.
Au had been a Democratic Party member but quit as he felt the party was not radical enough.
In district council meetings, members mainly talked about livelihood issues to serve people’s needs, but Au often magnified livelihood issues to criticize former chief executive Leung
So many things have happened, many citizens long for stability and prosperity.”
Judy Chan Ka-pui,
Chun-ying and the government, Chan reveals.
“But that is not a way to solve problems,” she said.
She noted Yum was a member of radical groups including League of Social Democrats and the People Power. He had disappeared from the political scene for several years and she did not know why he had returned at this stage.
Facing radical opponents, Chan said she had to work hard and seek the support of allies to reach out to as many voters as possible. Whoever her opponents, she would do her job well to secure support from more voters.
“This time, the NPP has the full support of allied organizations such as the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions in the pro-establishment camp. We are helping one another,” Chan said.