High hopes for new district councils

High hopes for new district councils

The democrats won the district councils with 57 percent of the vote. The election results reconfirmed that between 54 and 60 percent of voters in Hong Kong support the democrats. What made the difference this time was two-fold.

For the first time the democrats had candidates running in every constituency. Secondly, voters perceived the election as a referendum. One side considered it a referendum on the governance of Hong Kong. The other side considered it a referendum on violent protests. All disregarded the experience of incumbents. As a result, the democrats won more than 80 percent of the seats, or 388 out of 452. With that, democrats will be able to elect 117 more members of the chief executive election committee when it starts its new term in 2022.

Till then what will the democrats do with their control of 17 out of the 18 district councils?

The Secretary for Home Affairs congratulated the elected councilors and reminded them of their role: to promote community building and to create a better living environment. The reminder was unnecessary. The councillors are keen to do a good job for their communities so that they can get re-elected in four years’ time.

The newly minted councillors can be expected to flex their muscles with engagement of their communities in deciding the works and services required. A major roadblock in getting things done has been removed. In the Southern District Council proposals often died a tortuous death simply because the pro-establishment majority only supported their own ideas.

With 15 out of the 17 Southern District Councillors now democrats we can put weight behind our ideas. We have created a joint-platform and a work plan for the four years ahead. Walkability, cycling, trail enhancement, better hygiene, improved transport, coping with wild boars, and the list goes on. Importantly, we are keen to kick start local economic development to counter the loss of business Hong Kong has suffered with the trade war and contestations over Hong Kong’s governance.

Importantly, great effort will be made to make the work of the councils more transparent and inclusive. Besides place making programs, councilors are mulling over plans to establish youth councils, inviting secondary school students to propose, to vote on and to nominate ideas for action by the district councils.

I hope that the government will embrace the new councils and give their full support. In the last terms we had access to new funding for signature projects and extra budgets for minor works. Let’s see that this practice is going to continue. With trust and encouragement I’m confident that the new term of district council will surprise many.

(Based on article published in Southside Magazine - January 2020 issue)

2020 區議會新氣象

民主派在區議會選舉獲得57%選票，再次確認香港約54%至60%市民都支持民主派，但卻帶來兩重不同的意義。

這是第一 次每個選區都有民主派參選。其次，選民將是次選舉視為公投—一方視為對政府施政管治的不信任動議；另一方視為對激進示威的不滿，可見雙方都將現任政績視為較次要的因素。從結果來看，民主派贏得八成議席，即452席中的388席，同時亦能為2022年行政長官選舉選出117位選舉委員會成員。

然而，在18區中的17區獲得多數議席的民主派又可以做甚麼？民政事務局局長祝賀各當選議員時，提醒他們推動地區建設、創造更宜居環境的職能。這種提醒是多此一舉的。區議員的工作是被選民監策，只有稱職工作才能爭取選民在4年後重視授權連任。

市民期望新當選議員能投身社區，找出當區真正需要的工程及服務。獲得選民授權後，我們做實事的主要障礙被移除—多年來，不知多少南區區議會的議案，是因建制派的盲目反對而胎死腹中。

現在南區區議會中，民主派在17席中奪得15席，我們能用民意授權實現各種想法。我們一眾南區民主派成立了聯合政綱及未來四年的工作計劃，當中項目包括行人友善措施、單車規劃、鐵路政策、衛生、交通、野豬生態等等。更重要是我們已蓄勢待發推動發展地區經濟，以對沖香港經濟因貿易戰及管治失能社會動盪時的下行趨勢。

我們亦要讓區議會的工作更透明公開，容納更多不同聲音；創造公共空間計劃同時，籌劃青年議會，並邀請中學生為區議會建議方案，並投票作出表決。

我希望政府會接受新一屆區議會及給予全面協助。過去一屆，我們獲批用作地區重點及小型工程的額外撥款，就暫且看以上做法會否延續。只要有足夠信任及支持，我相信新一屆區議會將為大家帶來驚喜。

(立場新聞2020年1月3日連結:2020 區議會新氣象)