Exclusive | Hong Kong political newbie Bauhinia Party dismisses fears over mainland China roots, says mission is to mend rifts

Organisation has aroused suspicions among pro-Beijing groups that it aims to supplant them, while others question whether members are secretly serving the Communist Party

But a co-founder tells the Post the party seeks only to move Hong Kong past political gridlock and solve a failure in governance so causes of anti-government protests can be addressed

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Charles Wong, one of the three co-founders of the Bauhinia Party, in his office at Cyberport. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 9:00am, 17 Dec 2020Updated: 3:34pm, 17 Dec 2020

Hong Kong’s newest political party, established by three prominent businessmen born in mainland China, wants to steadfastly avoid being labelled a vehicle for such residents as it seeks to occupy the middle ground to offer candidates for Legislative Council and chief executive elections.

The Bauhinia Party came about from a sense of disappointment at the “weak” governance of the city and a pro-establishment camp stuck in a rut, said key leader Charles Wong Chau-chi in an exclusive interview with the Post after it broke the news of the organisation’s formation last week.

Wong, one of the three co-founders of the party established in May, stressed he did not want the organisation to be known as one established by haigui – a Chinese term referring to overseas-trained mainlanders who return to the country – as its 13 founding members came from all walks of life, with several born in Hong Kong.

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Hong Kong’s Bauhinia Party leader seeks to set the record straight about its Beijing connections

“We have a weak government and a pro-establishment camp that is not growing. The pro-democracy camp holds a grudge against Beijing’s decision to disqualify its lawmakers, while the yellow ribbons feel hopeless about their future,” said Wong, referring to the “yellow” camp that supported the anti-government movement which erupted last year over a since-aborted extradition bill.

“You cannot say that the government is incapable. It’s like a headless chicken that is not decisive enough and lacks direction.”

In the three-hour interview, Wong, the party’s secretary, laid out the new outfit’s vision to unite Hongkongers after the months-long social unrest, addressed suspicions that members were underground Communist Party operatives, and made clear it wanted to work with rather than replace the city’s pro-establishment groups.

Why would anyone throw themselves out to politics to help their businesses? Business by definition is discreet

Charles Wong, co-founder, Bauhinia Party

Some pro-Beijing figures have questioned its founding members’ intentions, asking whether it was wise to have a political party made up of “new Hongkongers”, using a label viewed by some as potentially divisive. Establishment figures have also wondered if the party’s aim is to further the founders’ personal interests, challenging if they know the distinction between being patriots and part of the loyalist camp.