Democratic Party (Hong Kong) primaries, 2016

Democratic Party's primary results
Constituency Candidate(s)
Hong Kong Island Ted Hui Chi-fung
Kowloon West Helena Wong Pik-wan
Kowloon East Wu Chi-wai
New Territories West Andrew Wan Siu-kin
New Territories East Lam Cheuk-ting
District Council (Second) James To Kun-sun
Roy Kwong Chun-yu

The 2016 Democratic Party pre-election primaries are to select the Democratic Party's candidates for the 2016 Legislative Council election. The candidacy was decided 60% by opinion polling, 20% by party's district branches and 20% by each district's district councillors and finalised in a voting in the special party congress on 24 April 2016. Seven candidate lists were decided in which James To, Helena Wong and Wu Chi-wai would seek for re-election in their respective constituencies, while chairwoman Emily Lau, Albert Ho and Sin Chung-kai would retire and succeeded by new faces Lam Cheuk-ting, Roy Kwong, Ted Hui and Andrew Wan.

Background

The Democratic Party has held intra-party primaries according to the opinion polls in the previous Legislative Council elections. In the previous mechanism, the candidacy was decided 60% by opinion polling, 20% by party's district branches and 20% by each district's district councillors. It was reverted to 8:1:1 after the 2004 Legislative Council election due to the criticism of too much influence of the party.[1]

The unprecedented primary proposal was suggested by chairwoman Emily Lau to hold public debates to select the candidacy before the party's voting. Lau said her idea was borrowed from the United States presidential primaries and believed such forums, which would be open to the public and the press, would greatly increase the transparency of the races.[2] The plan of public debates were later cancelled.

The annual party congress on 6 December 2015 primarily agreed on the pre-election primary proposal. On the congress, the party's electoral committee suggested to have only one ticket for each geographical constituency while two for the District Council (Second) "super seats". Former legislator Lee Wing-tat who lost in New Territories West expressed the worry of losing both lists if the party put forward two candidate lists as they did in the 2012 Legislative Council election. Zachary Wong Wai-yin, veteran Yuen Long District Council member suggested to modify the maximum candidate list for New Territories West and New Territories East from one to two, which agreed by 2012 New Territories West candidate Josephine Chan Shu-ying. The motion eventually passed with 62 for 61 against.[3] The idea of fielding two lists in New Territories East and West was eventually dismissed by many as too risky.[4]

The pre-election primary mechanism was also reverted to the pre-2004 6:2:2 ratio with 81 for 37 against to help the non-incumbent candidates who is disadvantaged by in the opinion polls compared to the publicity of the incumbent candidates would enjoy.[1]

Candidates

After the nomination period from 10 to 31 December, a total number of 14 nominations was received. The nominations surprised the media as long-time legislator and incumbent chairwoman Emily Lau decided not to run for an eighth term. The other incumbents who would not seek for re-election included Albert Ho of District Council (Second) and Sin Chung-kai of Hong Kong Island. Another surprise was the two rising stars Southern District Councillors Lo Kin-hei, who is also party's vice chairman, and Henry Chai Man-hon, have both given up contesting the Legislative Council elections.[5]

Hong Kong Island

Kowloon West

Kowloon East

New Territories West

New Territories East

District Council (Second)

Results

Democratic Party election rally in July 2016.
Candidates Ranking
Opinion polls District
Branches 		District
Councillors
Hong Kong Island (1 list)
Ted Hui Chi-fung 1st 2nd 2nd
Winfield Chong Wing-fai 2nd 1st 1st
Kowloon West (1 list)
Helena Wong Pik-wan 1st 1st 1st
Ramon Yuen Hoi-man 2nd 2nd 2nd
Kowloon East (1 list)
Wu Chi-wai uncontested
New Territories West (1 list)
Andrew Wan Siu-kin 1st 1st 1st
Josephine Chan Shu-ying 2nd 2nd 2nd
New Territories East (1 list)
Lam Cheuk-ting 2nd 2nd 1st
Joanne Leung Wing-yan 1st 3rd 3rd
Au Chun-wah 3rd 1st 2nd
District Council (Second) (2 lists)
James To Kun-sun 1st 1st 1st
Roy Kwong Chun-yu 2nd 2nd 2nd

References

  1. 1 2 "甄選機制降民調比重". Apple Daily. 7 December 2015.
  2. ↑ Lam, Jeffie (5 December 2015). "Hong Kong's Democratic Party to vote on pre-election primary proposal". South China Morning Post.
  3. ↑ "通過明年立法會選舉部署　民主黨新東新西最多兩名單". Apple Daily. 7 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Lam, Jeffie (18 April 2016). "Democratic Party lines up young guns to fight Hong Kong Legco elections". South China Morning Post.
  5. ↑ Lam, Jeffie (31 December 2015). "Hong Kong Democratic Party leader Emily Lau decides not to seek re-election in 2016". South China Morning Post.
  6. ↑ "【超區混戰】許智峯退選？". HK01. 12 January 2016.
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