Re-elected Democratic Party head Emily Lau calls for party to focus on younger Hong Kong generation
Democratic Party chairwoman beats three rivals, including second-generation lawmaker
The Democratic Party needs change to win the support of more young people in the post-Occupy era, Emily Lau Wai-hing said after she was re-elected as party head yesterday.
It was the fiercest leadership election in the party's 20-year history, with four members contesting the top post, including a 27-year-old.
The veteran Lau beat fellow lawmaker Wu Chi-wai, who's considered to be a second-generation party member, by a tighter margin than expected. The second-round vote was 171 to 145.
Speaking to the media after the biennial election, Lau said she noted that the Democrats were very concerned about waning support among young people.
"So many young people are being drawn into the 'umbrella movement'. We are very eager to engage and work with them," Lau said.
She said the party's central committee would work on strategies to engage young people, such as through university student unions. The party would also make more use of social media "so we can tune in with the younger generation".
Lau added that the party would propose policies regarded by Hongkongers as reflecting their interests in the face of what she called mainland economic and political dominance.
