Democratic Party backs Hong Kong primary to find strongest opposition candidates for Legislative Council race
- The preliminary contest, slated for July, is an attempt to assemble a field with the best chance of taking control of the chamber in September’s election
- An online petition has been signed by more than 45,000 people who pledge to only support those who follow the results of the primary
Hong Kong’s Democratic Party has pledged to support a primary held by the opposition camp after backing seven lawmakers to seek re-election, and help the bloc secure a majority in the Legislative Council vote in September.
The party endorsed the lists of prospective candidates in a special meeting on Sunday, setting the stage for the autumn vote, with the line-ups of most major parties in both camps revealed.
The opposition was given a boost of confidence by its landslide victory in the district council elections in November that came on the back of months of anti-government protests triggered by a now-withdrawn extradition bill.
But that popularity has sparked greater competition within the camp, with more independents or localists considering a run.
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Members of the bloc reached an initial consensus to hold the primary in July and allow voters to choose which pro-democracy candidates to field for September.
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Democratic Party leader Wu Chi-wai, endorsed for a run in Kowloon East, pledged his organisation would take part and obey the results.