Localist Edward Leung Tin-kei has claimed there has been a “misunderstanding” after radical lawmaker Raymond Wong Yuk-man criticised him for failing to support him and a fellow candidate Wong is in an alliance with.
Wong offered his support to Leung when he was running in a Legislative Council by-election in February. Leung is unable to run in Sunday’s election as he was barred by the relevant returning officer.
On Saturday, Wong criticised Leung for campaigning for Yau Wai-ching of localist group Youngspiration. Both Yau and Wong are running in the Kowloon West constituency.
“I don’t know what kind of political ethics that is… [you] have turned into a political cheat before becoming a lawmaker,” he said in a Facebook live video published last Saturday.
He also criticised Leung for not supporting Alvin Cheng Kam-mun of Civic Passion, who is running in the Hong Kong Island constituency. Civic Passion is part of an alliance with the Hong Kong Resurgence Order and Wong’s Proletariat Political Institute. Youngspiration is not running in the constituency.
‘Communication issue’
In response, Leung said the incident was caused by a “problem in communication.”
Leung said Wong asked him during a meeting to rally for Cheng, but he did not directly agree to the arrangement as members of his group Hong Kong Indigenous had different views.
Leung said he later agreed that he would help Cheng.
“Although our political views are different and we have a different focus on issues, [Alvin Cheng] is the only localist running in Hong Kong Island, we should help him and endorse him,” he said.
Leung had voiced his support for Hong Kong independence though he switched his position in the hope of being able to run. His nomination was nevertheless banned. Cheng supported perpetually extending the Basic Law, so that Hong Kong can secure its autonomy forever without becoming independent from China.
He added that he had sent a message to Cheng on last Thursday, asking him to participate in an online programme to show his support, but Cheng did not reply, possibly due to his busy schedule.
“It could be a misunderstanding due to a problem in communication,” he said.
Leung also appeared at a rally on Sunday in support of candidates of Youngspiration and also the group’s allies.
Non-apologies
After his explanation, some were unhappy about Wong’s original accusations.
More than a 100 people have been posting to a thread on the popular HKGolden forum, where many support the localists, saying that people should sarcastically apologise to candidates within Cheng and Wong’s alliance.
“I supported Hong Kong independence, I did not support extending the Basic Law perpetually, but I did not rally support for you – I am sorry,” one said.
The full list of candidates running across districts and constituencies can be viewed here.
