Hong Kong elections: biggest opposition party ends special meeting with no decision on contesting Legislative Council poll
- Group’s stance closely watched because of potential impact on competitiveness of coming race
- Pro-Beijing forces have been calling on party members to run in the next election held under a political shake-up by central government
Their absence allowed the party to avoid taking a vote, sidestepping any potential accusation from the pro-Beijing camp that it was boycotting the coming poll, a source said. Rival figures had earlier warned that Democrat leaders risked breaching the national security law if they barred members from contesting the polls.
Instead, dozens of the meeting’s participants voted to authorise the party’s central committee to set up a mechanism to assess members wishing to throw their hats into the ring. Any hopefuls who passed through the mechanism are still required to secure a green light from the party at an extraordinary general meeting in order to sign up for the race.
The central committee is expected to meet as early as this week.
Speaking to reporters after Sunday’s gathering, party chairman Lo Kin-hei said: “From those who had spoken during the meeting, I was given the impression that more members had wanted the party not to take part in the election. But there were also many members expressing views that we should take part.
