Super Seats - will you vote

[East_coast]

There is an up-and-coming election with 5 super seats.

Will there be super candidate to fill these new seats?

The various political parties never seem to have clear manifestos as far as I can see. So it ends up as a vote on ideology and personality.

[drumbrake]

I'd vote for Paul Zimmerman, if he is allowed to stand.

[East_coast]

Why his passport application is taking so long is a bit strange.

"Mike Rowse's application only took six weeks to process," said Zimmerman, referring to the former director general of Invest Hong Kong, a government department.

In the next legislative term, non-nationals will be allowed to occupy 14 of the 70 seats, based on Article 67 of the Basic Law.

Hopefully a mixture of younger and older candidates will be selected by the parties to add some passion to the debate.

[drumbrake]

He's got the passport, but not sure where or who he'll stand for.

RTHK News

Dutch-born District Councillor Paul Zimmerman has officially become a Chinese citizen, clearing the way for him to run for a Legislative Council seat in September. But it remains unclear whether he will stand as a Civic Party member or as an independent.

He wants to contest one of the five new citywide 'super seats.' But the pan-democrats have already agreed to back three lists -- two from the Democratic Party and one from the ADPL -- in that race.

Alternatively, Mr Zimmerman said he could quit the Civic Party and run as an independent on Hong Kong Island -- a move not welcomed by lawmaker Tanya Chan, number two on the Civic Party's Island list.

[Oldtimer]

I doubt he got the passport. He just Chinese Nationality by Naturalization.

He's got the passport, but not sure where or who he'll stand for.

RTHK News

[Oldtimer]

I have received pamphlets from various candidates all in Chinese. If I do not receive an English pamphlet, it is impossible for me to decide for whom to vote. I have voted in the past.

[East_coast]

What does each party stand for that is different to CY Leung?

[Mat]

What does each party stand for that is different to CY Leung?

Hair styles.

[Claire ex-ax]

I have received pamphlets from various candidates all in Chinese. If I do not receive an English pamphlet, it is impossible for me to decide for whom to vote. I have voted in the past.

Your vote is not important to them.

[Gatts]

Was reading some info on Gary Fan of the Neo-Democrats facebook page (which has english), he seems quite outspoken as opposed to some of the in-fighting Democrat crowd mentioned above and it is very rare I agree 100% with someone's views, although I'm not really sure what he has accomplished before. Can't vote for him though as he's from NT East. Bookblogger or other people in the know, how would you compare him or other Neo-democrats to say Audrey Eu/Civic Party?

Hong Kong Comes First

Dear friends in New Territories East,

Fifteen years after the reunification with the Mainland, the problem of “mainlandization” in Hong Kong has become more obvious. The property hegemony brings an extreme high cost
of local property. With the collusion between Government and the business sectors, the disparity between the rich and the poor, the suppression of civil rights and diminished press freedom, as well as tourist attractions becoming luxury shopping areas, Hong Kong is gradually losing its identity and core values.

Continuous promotion of Mainland-Hong Kong integration by the SAR Government would inevitably produce huge impact to the distinct culture and fundamental rights of Hong Kong people. The issue of giving birth by Mainlanders affected the rights of local mothers and the planning of long-term population strategy. Without proper consultation, the SAR Government’s Cross Border Driving Scheme is in defiance of the problems of road safety and air pollution. The high number of Mainland visitors traveling under the Individual Visit Scheme pushes up shop rental, which causes heavy financial burden to small retail shops.

The success of Hong Kong does not only rely on what we described as the pillars of our core values, including freedom, civil rights, democracy and rule of law, but also our distinct culture with the amalgamated Chinese-western civilizations in the past two centuries. If we fail to uphold these good characters, what are the differences between Hong Kong and other second-tier Mainland cities?

This election is not just a competition for seats in LegCo. It is essentially a battle for our core values. We strive for social justice and the right to directly elect our government and legislature, the removal of property hegemony, and a society which cares and assists the vulnerable and poor. We will fight to replace false harmony with justice and vested interest with equal opportunities.

Gary Fan
NeoDemocrats Candidates of NTE LegCo Election

********************

General Political Platform

1 Seeking the Amendment of the Basic Law to Curb the Influx of Mainlanders Giving Birth in Hong Kong

2 Formulating Long Term Housing and Land Policies to Ensure the Quality of Life of Hong Kong People

3 Calling for a Government Study of Hong Kong's Ability to Accommodate More Mainland Tourists

4 Against the Cross Border Driving Scheme

5 Formulate Long Term Population Policy and Reinstate the Authority in Approving Immigrants from Mainland China

6 Implementing 15-year Free Education and Revoking the National Education Programme

7 Striving for Genuine Universal Suffrage

8 Against the Proposed Amendment of Copyright Law to Defend the Rights of Derivative Works

9 Upholding the Independence Judiciary and
Promote the Equal Rights in the Community

10 Increasing the Health Care Expenditure and Manpower, Strengthening Specialist Out-patient Clinics Services

11 Developing a Green and Diversified Economy

12 Formulating Policies to Match Up the Internationalization of the RMB and Improve the Financial Regulatory System

13 Implementing Universal Retirement Protection Scheme

14 Legislating Standard Working Hours and Reinstate the Rights of Collective Bargaining

15 Buybacking Public Service Enterprises and Implement Government Budget that is Accountable to the People

16 Reforming the Taxation System Based on the Principles of Fairness and Affordability

范國威 Gary Fan | Facebook