A group of people opposed to last year’s pro-democracy Occupy protests have decided to run in the upcoming district council elections against pro-Beijing councillors.
One member of the group Chow Nim-ci told Ming Pao that “eight to ten people will run” in the Yau Tsim Mong district, where many district councillors belong to the pro-Beijing camp, “to intentionally clash with them.”
But they will not clash with Chris Ip Ngo-tung, district councillor for Jordan East, “because he is too wealthy.” Ip is also the nephew of pro-Beijing DAB Party lawmaker Ip Kwok-him.
However, Chow will not run in the election himself. He said “I wanted to, but I don’t have the money and a sponsor.”
Chow was nicknamed “Bald headed Chow” for his look when he first appeared at Occupy sites last year. He was a “core member” of the anti-Occupy “Greenpeace Alliance,” which tried to remove barricades made by pro-democracy protesters in Mong Kok.
He was also behind the protesters who surrounded the office of Next Media, local newspaper Apple Daily’s mother corp, who tried to stop the newspapers from publishing.
But he told the newspaper that “I did not receive any money to do it as people say.” He said he just wished to communicate with the newspaper about misunderstandings in news reports. “My role was like a public relations person, I have my manners.”
He was working as a security guard at the time. He said that the actions made him lose his job, and it was hard for him to find new employment, until he found an apprenticeship in a restaurant kitchen.
Chow was arrested for spilling paint at a company at a Yau Ma Tei building in June this year and was charged with blackmailing.
