HONG KONG – Fifty candidates vying for seats in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo) Selection Committee constituency presented their political platforms Thursday at a government-organized forum emphasizing the guiding principle of “patriots ruling Hong Kong.” The event, held at Queen Elizabeth Stadium, brought together all nominees for the powerful 50-member bloc, underscoring their commitment to national security, economic integration with the mainland, and addressing pressing social issues like the aging population.
The mandatory election forum, designed to allow candidates to detail their agendas, was attended by notable pro-Beijing figures, including National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Standing Committee member Henry Tang and Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Archbishop Andrew Chan. Candidates spoke sequentially according to their designated numbers, outlining diverse priorities ranging from maritime economics to advanced technology adoption.
Focus on National Strategy and Economic Integration
Several hopefuls stressed the importance of leveraging national development plans to propel Hong Kong’s economy. Lo Kar-king, who brings extensive corporate management experience, expressed his desire to apply his expertise during this “critical moment of transition from chaos to stability” in Hong Kong. He highlighted the need to uphold national security and seize opportunities within China’s 15th Five-Year Plan to align Hong Kong more closely with the overall national strategy.
Echoing this focus, incumbent legislator Yiu Pak-leung emphasized tourism not only as a livelihood industry but as a crucial “three-dimensional window” for showcasing Hong Kong’s appeal globally and facilitating the telling of the “China and Hong Kong story.” Running for re-election in this sector, Yiu called for elevating tourism to a strategic level to ensure greater cross-sector and inter-departmental collaboration. Similarly, Fan Chun-wah’s platform promotes economic development, national security education, and encourages small and medium-sized enterprises to innovate and transform. He advocated looking beyond traditional markets toward the Belt and Road initiative countries and Russia.
Technological Advancement and Legal Expertise
The push for technological advancement was a repeated theme. Man Wun-yee addressed the sweeping wave of Artificial Intelligence driving industrial transformation. She seeks to position Hong Kong to capitalize on its strengths in professional consultancy and high-value services, urging all sectors to intensify their use of technology and leverage opportunities presented by the Belt and Road framework.
In the legal sphere, barrister Wu Ying-peng, who is also a practicing lawyer in mainland China, highlighted his focus on combating foreign sanctions. He stressed the necessity of refining the Special Administrative Region government’s legal framework against foreign interference, arguing that Hong Kong must actively participate in national foreign-related legal governance and international rule-making amid a volatile global environment.
Social Welfare and Maritime Economy Agendas
While many platforms focused on economic and political alignment, some candidates highlighted specific societal needs. Peter Koon, known for his background in social welfare, boldly asserted his superior expertise in this field compared to other nominees. Koon focused on the looming demographic crisis, pointing out that in approximately a decade, over 800,000 Hong Kong residents will be over 80 years old, demanding a comprehensive blueprint to address the challenges of an aging society.
Meanwhile, Steven Ho Chun-yin of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) announced his transition from his previous role representing the agriculture and fisheries sector. His new goal is to develop a “Blue Economy blueprint.” Ho argued that the potential of the marine economy extends far beyond traditional aquaculture to include yachting and maritime tourism, domains currently hindered by a lack of cohesive policy and infrastructure.
The forum concluded with a moment of cultural flair as candidate Adrian Ho King-kong of the New People’s Party briefly sang the local classic “Bauhinia,” symbolizing his hope of maintaining Hong Kong’s distinct international character while striving to rival global financial centers. He also proposed that the Greater Bay Area collaborate to jointly bid for the Olympic Games, reflecting the pervasive theme of deep regional integration defining this electoral contest.
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