Pro-establishment camp worried about poll prospects

A record turnout rate in the 2019 District Council election amid the violent unrest is having the pro-establishment camp worried about its future role in helping to ease social tensions in the city.

The huge turnout, which had surpassed the final rate in the last local election in 2015 about seven hours before ballots close, is believed to have been largely fueled by the opposition camp seeking to capitalize on the political impasse.

Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the city’s largest party in the legislature, said the record turnout rate has created further uncertainties. The solicitor is competing against Pang Ka-ho and Shirley Wong Mi-hing in the Sai Wan constituency.

Several pro-establishment candidates, including lawmaker and DAB Chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king, who's seeking re-election in the To Kwa Wan North constituency, have made urgent appeals to supporters to cast their votes to help restore peace and order.

Lee said she has never seen such a high turnout rate in a district council poll, adding it's hard to predict the final results. While campaigning on Sunday afternoon, Lee was blocked by her opponent Leung Kwok-hung, who shouted slogans against her.

Holden Chow Ho-ding, who's contesting in the Tung Chung South constituency, said he and his supporters were worried about this year’s election because the opposition had encouraged many young people to vote against them as the unrest continues.

“I hope residents can come out despite the ‘black terror’ and use their votes to help end the violence,” said Chow, whose district office had been vandalized four times by black-clad protesters, mostly young people. The legislative councilor is running against Lai Wing-on, Wong Chun-yeung and Lau Wing-yin.

Several other candidates also urged the Electoral Affairs Commission, Hong Kong’s election watchdog, to closely monitor polling stations following online calls to obstruct polling.

Gary Chan Hak-kan, vice-chairman of the DAB, said he had seen people repeatedly queuing up at polling sites, but some of them in the queues eventually did not cast their votes.

DAB lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan said she has received multiple complaints from residents, including senior citizens who became exhausted after being forced to wait for long hours to vote.

Senior citizens have long been seen as a support base for the pro-establishment camp.

The pro-establishment camp currently holds 327 district council seats, compared with 124 for the opposition.