[thediplomat.com] Why China’s Supporters in Hong Kong are Divided
( News Extract, January 20, 2017)
As further evidence of this trend, other candidates supported by the Liaison Office like Paul Tse, Priscilla Leung and Junius Ho, pejoratively known as “godsons and daughters of Sai Wan” – Sai Wan being a moniker for the Liaison Office – are all lawyers. Pro-establishment politicians with legal experience also act as intellectual counterweights against the pro-democracy camp in Legco in a way that grassroots trade unionists cannot. It is also possible that the promotion of independent candidates is part of a divide-and-conquer strategy employed by the Liaison Office which deliberately sows discord to prevent one faction from dominating the camp.
The elections also saw a more ominous episode of infighting between pro-establishment candidates. The Liberal Party candidate Ken Chow Wing-kan was forced to drop out of the race due to blackmail and threats from suspected mainland officials. Many have pointed the finger at his pro-establishment competitor Junius Ho, a candidate supported by the Liaison Office and whose campaign volunteers have been recorded planning to physically assault Ken Chow. James Tien also came out after the elections claiming that the Liaison Office has approached him to ask Ken Chow to withdraw his candidacy in order to guarantee Ho sufficient votes for a seat.
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