New Territories East by-election candidates Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu and Holden Chow Ho-ding are neck-and-neck in their bids to win a Legislative Council seat, according to a poll conducted by the Hong Kong Research Association. Yeung and Chow are representing the pan-democratic Civic Party and the pro-Beijing DAB party respectively.
The association interviewed 1,071 eligible by-election voters. Results showed that 22 percent of the voters supported Yeung and 20 percent supported Chow. 26 percent of those polled said they were undecided.
High turnout expected
The association also noted that the turnout is likely to be high. Around 80% of the area’s eligible voters said that they “definitely would” or “probably would” vote. Only 7% said they “would not” or “probably would not” vote.
“On the choice of candidate, the most important factor is ‘political background/political stance’ (51%), the next is ‘previous work performance’ (19%), and the next is ‘political platform’ (18%)” the association said.
The by-election is being held to select a candidate to fill the seat left vacant by Ronny Tong, previously of the Civic Party. Tong resigned from the Legislative Council last year after quitting the party, citing differences in goals. Yeung, a lawyer, is seen as a rising star in politics.
Of the remaining candidates, Third Side’s Wong Sing-chi came in at 11 percent, Hong Kong Indigenous’s Edward Leung Tin-kei at 10 percent, independent Fong Kwok-shan at 5 percent, non-partisan Lau Chi-shing at 3 percent and independent Albert Leung Sze-ho at 1 percent.
