Voter turnout respectable, says Regina Ip

New People’s Party chairwoman Regina Ip says she is pleased with her party’s performance in Sunday Legco polls, which she found attracted a “respectable” turnout.

Her party saw five out of six candidates securing a Legco seat.

The incumbent legislator and executive councillor won in the directly elected Hong Kong Island West constituency, while her colleague Eunice Yung landed a seat in the Election Committee constituency.

“I think we will be the centrists in Legco, we want to represent the forces in the middle, the middle-class, not only in terms of middle income, but in terms of ideology, we won’t represent extreme positions,” Ip said.

She added that the council should no longer be divided into establishment and non-establishment camps, as all members are now patriots.

On the voter turnout, Ip said it should not be compared with past figures.

“Such comparisons are irrelevant and meaningless because we have lodged a new electoral system,” she explained.

“The voter turnout of 30.2 percent for a new electoral system is highly respectable and reflects considerable confidence in the new system,” she said.

The party’s Lai Tung-kwok, who’s a former security secretary, and Judy Chan will be joining the council for the first time as members of the new Election Committee constituency, while Dominic Lee sealed a directly elected seat in New Territories North East.

“One of the main stories that my result tells is whether or not my social media influence has transformed into votes, right? I think I have successfully done that,” said Lee.

He said he believes his social media experience will help his work in the new Legco.

“I think one of the most important tasks of Legislative Council members is to portray a good story of China and Hong Kong,” Lee said, adding that he will also make use of social media to explain government policies to the public.

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