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After the landslide: Hong Kong’s pan-democrat district council winners talk inspiration, motivation and next steps

  • Winners were activists, students, first-time candidates, workers and professionals.
  • They defeated entrenched councillors, including some who had served for decades

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People queue up for the district council elections at Sha Tin Government Secondary School. Photo: Winson Wong
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy candidates swept aside their pro-establishment rivals in a political tsunami on November 24, scoring a massive victory in Hong Kong’s district council elections

The winners were first-time candidates – some in their 20s – students, ordinary workers and professionals. They defeated entrenched councillors, including certain veteran officials who had served for decades.

The pan-democrats won 392 of 452 seats, nearly nine out of 10. The pro-establishment camp now has 60 seats, far from the 292 they held before last month’s polls.

The status quo has been reversed. Pro-establishment councillors had dominated all 18 district councils, now pan-democrats hold the majority in 17 districts. Only the Islands District Council is still “blue”, run by the pro-establishment camp.

The Post spoke to the winners about what happened – and what they plan to do.

Former student leader Lester Shum won the district council elections at Hoi Bun constituency at Tsuen Wan. Photo: May Tse
Former student leader Lester Shum won the district council elections at Hoi Bun constituency at Tsuen Wan. Photo: May Tse

Winner: Lester Shum, 26, works at lawmaker Eddie Chu Hoi-dick’s office; co-leader of Occupy protests; former deputy general of Hong Kong Federation of Students

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