China Daily: FTU condemns ‘intimidation’ campaign, demands fair elections in November

Hong Kong’s largest labor group on Sunday condemned radical protesters for launching an “intimidation” campaign against candidates contesting next month’s district council elections, calling for fairness in the upcoming polls.

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions expressed concern that the violence, vandalism and disruptions would influence the outcome of the elections due to be held on Nov 24.

Under attack

Kwai Tsing District Councilor Alice Mak Mei-kuen said her election advertisements have been repeatedly removed or damaged since she was nominated on Oct 4. She complained that this would lead to unfair competition as banners put up by the opposition camp have been left intact.

Mak, a candidate from the FTU, called such behavior by protesters “disgraceful” which is aimed at silencing all the pro-establishment candidates. Hong Kong voters, she said, have good judgment and should be free from any interference and intimidation when taking part in political activities.

To make matters worse, candidates whose advertisements have been damaged may not be able to replace them as election expenses are limited, said Mak. She urged the Electoral Affairs Commission to deal with interference in the election campaigns and take steps to ensure fairness.

Other candidates from the pro-establishment camp have also complained of assaults on members of their campaign teams during canvassing activities.

A social worker for candidate Holden Chow Ho-ding was hit and injured by a car on Saturday after a dispute with the driver over their political views. Chow, who’s running for the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, condemned the incident and urged the police to investigate.

Offices of the DAB – the city’s largest political party in Legislative Council – have also come under attack. The party, which is fielding 179 candidates in the upcoming elections, said more than 60 of its offices have been vandalized more than 90 times.

Voters’ safety at stake

According to FTU President Stanley Ng Chau-pei, 14 offices of the union’s members have been vandalized more than 20 times during the ongoing anti-government protests, causing inconvenience to residents as the offices provide public services, like medical services for the elderly and vocational training.

Mak said her office had to suspend services helping residents to obtain the government’s HK$4,000 handouts under the Caring and Sharing Scheme after protesters stormed her office and destroyed the applicants’ files.

A recently leaked surveillance video showed a young man slapped an elderly woman as she tried to enter the FTU office at On Ting Estate in Tuen Mun.

The union denounced the attack, saying it created panic among voters, who expressed fears for their safety on polling day.

More than 1,000 qualified candidates will contest council seats in the 452 constituencies in the city’s 18 districts.

China Daily

(HK Edition 10/28/2019 page4)