No more Mr Nice Guy: DAB’s Holden Chow makes combative shift for new Legco

After his tearful performance in the February by-elections, the pro-Beijing party’s aspiring ‘artilleryman’ says he’s ready to take on rivals’ filibustering.

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Holden Chow Ho-ding, vice-chairman of pro-Beijing party the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong says he’s ready for a more outspoken role in the new Legco. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 5:22pm, 19 Sep 2016Updated: 7:08pm, 19 Sep 2016

Holden Chow Ho-ding has promised to be an outspoken critic of his rivals in the Legislative Council, especially if the pan-democrats and localists resort to “irrational” filibustering against government proposals.

The 37-year-old solicitor’s comments mark a combative shift from his tone just two months ago when he pledged to act as a bridge between the pro-establishment and pan-democrat camps if successful in the September 4 Legco elections.

Chow, vice-chairman of pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, insisted that he was not contradicting his position.

“We need to be critical if they are filibustering ... [I also think] we will have very different views on ‘one country, two systems’, but I cannot rule out cooperation and finding consensus on livelihood issues,” he said.

“I will also join hands with my party colleague Ann Chiang Lai-wan in reaching out to new lawmakers like me ... [The beginning of a new term] is an opportunity for communicating and rebuilding mutual trust.”

Chow explained that he wanted to take up an outspoken role in the party, which he described as an “artilleryman”, after several veteran DAB lawmakers stepped down. He said his supporters endorsed his more combative style in recent election forums.