Almost 70 per cent of Hong Kong people oppose the re-election of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, according to a poll conducted by the Democratic Party. The party said it was inclined not to cast blank protest votes in the upcoming chief executive election, but it has yet to decide whether it will nominate anyone to run in the race.
The party interviewed 810 by phone between November 10 and 26 – 69 per cent of respondents were against Leung’s re-election, with only 19 per cent saying they would support a second term
Of those who said they would not support a second term for Leung:
- 33 per cent said the reason was that he had failed to win support from Hong Kong people;
- 17 per cent said Leung provoked conflict in society;
- 14 per cent said Leung’s integrity was questionable;
- 12 per cent said he did not fulfil his election promises;
- 24 per cent said it was all of the reasons mentioned.
The poll also showed that 68 per cent of the interviewees felt Hong Kong has worsened after almost five years of Leung’s rule. If he was re-elected, 60 per cent of the interviewees said they would have less faith in the city’s future.
Leung has yet to officially announce whether he will seek re-election.
Andrew Wan Siu-kin, the party’s lawmaker responsible for the poll, said the result was very clear in showing the public’s opinion.
“If Leung is re-elected, amid such opposition, via the small-circle election, I am afraid Hong Kong people’s confidence in the next five years will drop to a new low,” he said.
The election for the 1,200-member chief executive election committee will take place this Sunday. The pro-democracy camp aims to gain more than 300 seats.
Wan said the Democratic Party’s chief executive electors – including lawmakers who are automatically members of the election committee – were inclined not to cast blank votes in protest during the election next March.
“This election may be decided by a key several dozen votes – if we cast several dozen blank votes and [cause the election of an unwanted candidate], I am concerned that the outcome may be much worse,” he said.
Wan added that the party’s voting tactic may change should the pro-democracy camp – unexpectedly – not achieve enough seats to influence the election and prevent Leung’s re-election.
