Messengers from Beijing want us to run for Legco: DP

The Democratic Party said most of its supporters don’t want the party to run in the Legislative Council election later this year, contrary to overtures by “messengers from Beijing” who are urging them to do so despite the government’s electoral overhaul.

In any case, party chairman Lo Kin-hei said the Democrats are putting off making a final decision until September on the polls now slated for December 19.

He told RTHK’s Damon Pang that pro-Beijing figures have appealed to Democratic Party members to join the race, despite the revamp that reduces the number of directly-elected lawmakers and requires Legco hopefuls to receive the blessing of local delegates to the national legislature or advisory bodies before they’re allowed to stand.

“I didn’t meet them personally, I’m not very engaged by them in this sense. But I know there are many different kinds of people who come to find our members and talk to them, and there are some Hong Kong pro-establishment politicians, they also talked to me as well,” Lo said.

“At this point of time, most of what they’re saying is that ‘you should run, you have to run’, they think it’s good for us to run.”

As for party supporters who don’t want the Democrats to run for Legco, Lo said they may be the more vocal ones who have stronger feelings than others.

“Some of them may say they’re not satisfied with the election system, and some of them may be afraid of us being targetted if we run, and they think there is a risk when you run in elections or when you’re in Legco,” he said.

But Lo also said he’s met supporters who want them to run.

He said he wants to give party members sufficient time to discuss before making a final decision, even though some of them are now remanded in custody on various offences.

Lo also said it’s important for the party to hear everyone’s views.

The legislature, now dominated by pro-government lawmakers, is expected on Wednesday to endorse proposed changes to electoral laws.

Lo said a final decision on whether his party will run or not may not come until the 1,500-strong election committee is formed in September.

The body will get to nominate all Legco members, and select 40 of them through block-voting. Legco candidates will need nominations from each of the five subsectors of the committee.

One new subsector will involve local delegates to the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, as well as those who sit on national organisations.

Lo conceded that it would be difficult for Democratic Party members to receive the blessing of members of the new subsector, but he doesn’t think the most important issue at hand is whether Beijing accepts the pro-democracy camp as part of Legco.

“I don’t think whether Beijing accepts or tolerates our voice defines us; it is us who define ourselves,” he said.