Debate welcome at Hong Kong’s Legco election forums, but no smearing: Eric Chan
City’s No 2 official says government-run forums, other efforts aim to elect high-quality candidates without ‘mudslinging and back-stabbing’
Hong Kong’s No 2 official has said that debate is welcome at government-run Legislative Council election forums, defending the events as he encouraged candidates to express opposing views without resorting to smears against one another.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki made the remarks as the two government-organised forums held on Friday matched the tone of events from earlier this week, with only minor clashes being seen among candidates.
He was defending the administration’s “peaceful” forums for election candidates as Beijing’s top office overseeing the city urged candidates to “never turn to spreading rumours, leaking information, smear campaigns, attacks and slander or tearing apart communities”.
“There is no problem with candidates expressing different views during debates. And it is their decision to choose the way they present themselves – whether in an argumentative approach or not,” Chan told a radio programme on Friday.
“But we hope candidates will not resort to tactics such as smearing, mudslinging and back-stabbing.”
The government revealed plans on Monday to host 39 forums – one each for the 10 geographical, 28 functional and one Election Committee constituencies – ahead of polling day on December 7 for the city’s second “patriots-only” legislature, with 90 seats being contested.