The only elected official associated with the pro-democracy group Youngspiration has left the group.
Youngspiration announced on Friday that Whampoa West constituency district councillor Kwong Po-yin withdrew her membership of the group on June 3.
No explanation was given for Kwong’s withdrawal.
Kwong notified Youngspiration’s executive committee of her decision the night of June 3, and many members have attempted to ask her to stay for the past two weeks, without success.
“We express our regrets,” they said in a Facebook post. “Although we are facing many challenges, Youngspiration will stand by our beliefs, to push forward self-determination of the Hong Kong nation,” the group said in a Facebook post. “We hope you continue to support Youngspiration, to fight hard from different positions.”
Kwong, who is a doctor at a public hospital, also removed her political affiliation from the district council’s official profile.
Real change
In a Facebook post, Kwong said, “As a part of Youngspiration, I fought hard with you in the past 15 months, I need to thank you all for helping me to find the key to change,” she said. “But this was only the first step, we need more and more efforts to bring real change.”
“In the future, other than district council work, I will continue to practice district democratic education and civil participation, to rebuild the trust that was gradually lost between the people and councillors,” she added.
Kwong said she may cooperate with Youngspiration in the future if there are suitable issues or actions.
Localist group
Youngspiration is a localist group formed after the end of the Occupy protests in 2014. The party maintains a more radical stance than traditional pan-democrats. But Youngspiration has yet to reach an internal consensus on whether to support Hong Kong independence.
The party fielded nine candidates in the district council elections last November, with Kwong being their only winning candidate. She beat Lau Wai-wing, the pro-Beijing former chairman of the Kowloon City district council, by 39 votes.
Yau Wai-ching, another member of Youngspiration, was Kwong’s assistant at her district council office. It is not known how Kwong’s withdrawal will affect Yau’s position.
Chow Sai-kit, a former spokesperson for the group who also ran in the district council election, withdrew from Youngspiration in February.
Recently, the group was embroiled in controversy after announcing that it will set up a booth during the July 1 march to accept donations, but will not participate in the march.
Youngspiration plans to field candidates in the Legislative Council election in September.
