Advertisement

Hong Kong’s No 2 official ‘disappointed’ as opposition district councillors boycott meeting but he says turnout not the main issue

  • Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung’s meeting with newly elected district councillors attended by 40 mostly pro-establishment politicians only
  • In separate development that could increase tensions, government vows to push ahead with two controversial projects in Wan Chai and Kwun Tong

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Matthew Cheung (right), with Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah, met about 40 district councillors on Friday. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong’s No 2 official has expressed disappointment that the opposition camp boycotted his meeting with newly elected district councillors on Friday, with the session only attended by 40 mostly pro-establishment politicians.

Advertisement

In another development that could intensify tensions between officials and pan-democrats, the government also vowed to push ahead with two controversial projects in Wan Chai and Kwun Tong, worth HK$190 million (US$24 million) in total, despite earlier attempts by opposition district councillors to suspend them.

Riding on anti-government sentiment fuelled by the months-long social unrest, the pro-democracy bloc won nearly 90 per cent of the 452 seats in local elections in November, seizing control of 17 out of 18 district councils amid a record turnout and in a humiliating defeat for the pro-establishment camp.
Pan-democrat members of at least nine district councils had previously made clear they would snub Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung’s meeting.
Pan-democrats scored a landslide win in November’s district council elections. Photo: Sam Tsang
Pan-democrats scored a landslide win in November’s district council elections. Photo: Sam Tsang
Advertisement

Three groups – the Democratic Party, Civic Party and Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood – also declared they would join the boycott.

Advertisement