Three incumbent lawmakers seeking another term by running in Hong Kong Island West made desperate appeals just hours into Sunday’s Legislative Council election, with the race for directly elected seats heating up compared with four years ago.
Hong Kong Island West is the only geographical constituency among the 10 where three serving legislators – Judy Chan Kapui, Chan Hok-fung and Kwok Wai-keung – are competing with two newcomers for two seats, essentially meaning at least one of them will be ousted.
“Our electoral situation is very critical and intense. That’s why I want to sound the alarm early,” said Judy Chan of the New People’s Party, which outgoing lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee founded and chairs.
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Chan was previously returned via the Election Committee constituency but was tasked with running in Hong Kong Island West to take on the seat vacated by Ip, who won over 65,000 votes four years ago.
“I hope Ip’s supporters won’t abstain from voting just because they don’t see her running. The New People’s Party really needs to continue speaking up for our residents in the legislature,” Chan added.
Ip was one of the 12 lawmakers aged 70 or above who opted not to run for election, paving the way for others to stand.