There should be a resource on GeoExpat where the community can help “vet†candidates for the district elections. So I am starting a thread.
Because there are so much intricate and local knowledge required to make an informed decision, sharing any information on candidates can reduce the burden on researching and making the right decision for who to vote for.
Why is this important?
Because a few votes can swing history.
At the time, how much did we know about Ho Kwan Yiu (especially as an expat, even with years of living in HK)?
Unlike those with local roots or grew up here, you never get much of a backstory.
Candidates and party lines are a complex web.
I know quite a few expats who voted for him. In fact, I didn't come across a single fellow expat at the time of the elections who wasn't "impressed" by him. Ashamedly, myself included. I didn't know enough about him.
My local friend, shaking his head, as he said to me (after the elections): "how could you be so stupid?"
He was slick in "English" rhetoric with the "foreigners." I remember back during the elections a good number of expats helping him campaign, chanting and handing out flyers-- helping to "smooze" with the old local folks. I remember overheard talk that "he's polished enough to be CEO." Did they really know anything about him?
L19 LOK TSUI DISTRICT 2014 ELECTION RESULTS
1 HO KWAN YIU 2,013* (Elected)
2 YUEN WAI CHUNG 99
3 CHENG CHUNG TAI 391
4 CHEUNG WING WAI 25
5 SHUM KAM TIM 94
6 HO CHUN YAN 1,736 (Former 18-Year Incumbent)
Ho Kwan Yiu = Junius Ho
You can blame it on the young challengers... but...
Local expat population 4.6%
140 votes, swung history...