Rising young Hong Kong politician Holden Chow joins Legislative Council by-election fray

A vice-chairman of Hong Kong’s biggest political party, Holden Chow Ho-ding, is to stand in next month’s Legislative Council by-election in what is widely seen as a showdown between the pan-democracy and pro-Beijing camps.

“It is time to get Hong Kong back on the right track,” said the 36-year-old lawyer in an address attended by fellow members of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and leaders of other pro-Beijing groups and parties.

In a reference to the Occupy protests in 2014 and filibustering by pan-democrats in the Legislative Council, he said: “If you are fed up with all of these, this is time for you to make a change.”

Chow, who won a seat in Islands district council in November’s district level elections, is also tipped to contest the “super seat” in the Legislative Council polls, expected to be held in September, which involves the 3.2 million electors who do not vote in other functional constituencies.

Yesterday’s event included leaders from the Federation of Trade Unions, New People’s Party and the Business and Professionals Alliance, but there was no one from the Liberal Party or Heung Yee Kuk rural body.

There is speculation that the two groups, considered part of the pro-Beijing camp, could also run in the February 28 by-election, triggered by Ronny Tong Ka-wah’s resignation from Legco and the Civic Party in the wake of last summer’s failed political reform package.