Pro-democracy parties who exposed the lead in water scandal have won only one seat in the five constituencies where the major affected public housing estates are situated.
The contamination issue was first brought to light by the Democratic Party in July, after which 11 public housing estates and various schools across Hong Kong were found with excessive lead content in their water supplies.
The pro-democracy Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood (ADPL) also uncovered evidence of contamination.
Most of the affected public estates were built after 2010, meaning the population in the areas could have seen certain degree of change after the last District Council election in 2011.
The Democratic Party’s Ng Kim-sing beat Leung Kar-ming of the pro-Beijing DAB party in the Hing Fong constituency, Kwai Tsing district by 2,701 votes to 2,029. Kwai Luen Estate, one of the estates affected by the scandal, is in the constituency.
However, the pro-Beijing camp won four other constituencies where affected estates are located:
- Kai Ching Estate: In Kai Tak North constituency in Kowloon City, independent candidate Leung Yuen-ting beat ADPL’s Li Ting-fung by 2,610 to 932.
- Wing Cheong Estate: In Fu Cheong constituency in Sham Shui Po, Leung Man-kwong of Kowloon West New Dynamic beat ADPL’s Li Kwing by 2,973 to 2,130.
- Choi Fook Estate: In Jordan Valley constituency in Kwun Tong, DAB Party’s Ngan Man-yu beat Democratic Party’s Wong Wai-tag by 2,638 to 1,400.
- Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate: In the Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate constituency in Kwun Tong, DAB Party’s Cheung Yiu-pan beat Democratic Party’s Wong Ching-fung by 2,441 to 1,979.
