By-election 2016

  By Tracy Zhang; Photo by Alfred Lam & Celia Lai At 8.30pm, more than 370,000 voters have balloted for the Legislative Council's New Territories East geographical constituency by-election while the seven candidates and their supporters continue to campaign for votes. The seven candidates, which include Lau Chi-shing, Wong Shing-chi, Holden Chow Ho-ding, Albert Leung Sze-ho, Christine Fong Kwok-shan, Edward Leung Tin-kei and Yeung Alvin Ngok-kiu are fighting for one seat that will last for seven months. Chan Ka-hei, a F6 student who supports Leung Tin-kei Edward, said, "I believe Leung Tin-kei because Hong Kong Indigenous could be hope for the city's future." "I hope the winning candidate can uphold our core values and represent Hong Kong people's voices," said Mr Chan. Another of Leung's supporters, Tsang Tak Kit, 21, who volunteered to campaign for Leung Tin Kei said he believes Leung could ban all the unreasonable policies to prevent Hong Kong from being "engulfed" by the Mainland in 2047. But former media-related worker Mony Chan said she would prefer Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, the Civic Party candidate due to his "humble personality" because Hong Kong is not ready for the direct protest that Leung is appealing for. Former Scholarism spokesperson Lai Man-lok Oscar and former legislator Martin Lee Chu-ming rallied for Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu outside Fanling train station, calling for the protection of the 'crucial seat' with votes. Executive Councilor Starry Lee who supports Holden Chow said the campaign was critical since a silent majority of Hong Kong's voters had not voted, during which the turnout rate reached 26.03 per cent, 2 per cent lower than that in 2012. "No one is absolutely right or wrong. They (the parties and the government) need to calm down and have a talk so as to work things out," said 89-year-old Mr Wong, adding …

  By Susan Gao; Photo by Tiffany Lui & Rechelia Yeung Thousands of Hong Kongers in the New Territories East constituency are casting their votes for a legislative by-election today, in which seven candidates are vying for a seat left vacant by a prominent democrat Ronny Tong Ka-wah. The poll, once a battle between pro-Beijing parties and democrats who want more autonomy, now takes a new twist among the rise of Edward Leung Tin-kei, an activist who promotes independence from China and was arrested over the recent Mong Kok chaos. Edward Leung Tin-kei, 24, a leader of a localism group Hong Kong Indigenous, has become a new choice of many freedom-loving voters who once preferred Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu of Civic Party, a rising star among the pan-democrats. Another front-runner is Beijing loyalist Holden Chow Ho-ding, vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), who has been emphasising the importance of harmony throughout the election. Chan Ka-hei Herman, a F.6 student who supports Mr Leung said pro-democrats haven't been successful in fighting for democracy and better policies in the past. He believes that localism would be hope for the city's future. "I don't expect the candidate to do much in a seven-month period," he said, "but I hope the winning candidate can uphold our core values and represent Hong Kong people's voices." The amount of support the young activist gains will be an indicator of mainstream society's acceptance towards localism movements and radical protest methods, both of which are fiercely opposed by Beijing. Tsang Tak-kit, 21, who volunteered to campaign for Mr Leung said he supports him because he does not want Hong Kong to be "engulfed" by the Mainland in 2047. "I believe Leung can ban all the unreasonable policies if he gets elected." Despite …