Pro-Beijing party member stays mum on Hong Kong leader’s possible bid for re-election
DAB vice-chairman is one of seven candidates contesting upcoming Legco by-election next month, triggered by pan-democrat lawmaker’s shock resignation last June
A vice-chairman of the city’s largest pro-government party declined to say whether chief executive Leung Chun-ying should seek a second term next year.
Holden Chow Ho-ding, a 36-year-old lawyer from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, is contesting in the Legislative Council’s New Territories East by-election on February 28 with six rivals – five of whom said Leung should not seek re-election.
READ MORE: Meet the seven candidates in the upcoming Legco by-election
Although the winner will only get a five-month term, the by-election was regarded as a showdown among political factions ahead of the citywide poll in September.
When the seven candidates attended an election forum on Commercial Radio on Wednesday, they were asked whether they would support Leung should he seek re-election next year.
Chow sidestepped the question and said: “Leung hasn’t said whether he is running for a second term yet, so I think I don’t need to comment on it at this stage.”
He added that he would rather talk about the problems facing parents whose children cross the border to attend school in Hong Kong.
The by-election was triggered by moderate pan-democrat Ronny Tong Ka-wah, who resigned from the Civic Party and the legislature after a Beijing-decreed political reform package was voted down last year.
