From the blog of Lantau Confidential – NOTES FROM THE BIG ISLAND

Poll result shows it’s time to pause Lantau ‘development’

The Islands District Council result yesterday reflected Hong Kong as a whole; the pro-government and pan-Dem forces basically fought a draw.

Each gained and lost a seat. Democrat Eric Kwok ousted Andy Lo in Yat Tung South, while Peter Yu (Civic Party) lost to Sammi Fu (New People’s Party) in Tung Chung North. Amy Yung (Civic Party) held onto Discovery Bay despite the efforts of the SCMP.

As widely-predicted, Randy Yu comfortably won the Lantau seat vacated by Rainbow Wong but his share of the vote plummeted from 77% in 2011 to just on 50% – the lowest that the establishment candidate has ever achieved. That slide in support is a testament to the disquiet over the blizzard of projects and development schemes, in particular the Shek Kwu Chau incinerator and the plan to open up South Lantau roads.

With half the population voting against the pro-government, pro-development, Heung Yee Kuk candidate, it’s reasonable to call for a pause in the whole Lantau development mania. There is clearly significant unease about the pace, scale and manner of what is being proposed.

Yu himself has said that any development should not be rushed and should have the consent of the local population. As he told this blog:

I believe large and hasty changes in Lantau are inadvisable… The ideal way (to achieve balanced development) is to first understand clearly that local residents enjoy their existing lifestyle, and only then to start making plans, and in this way avoid forcing ‘urbanite’ planning models on rural areas.

That’s a clear call for a much more consultative style of development. The new IDC should insist the government respond to community concerns by putting on-hold all the plans that have emanated from LanDAC and restarting with genuine consultation that starts with the question of how the community can benefit from new development.

Final election results:

Lantau

1. Randy Yu 1895
2. Lau King Cheung 653
3. Yuen Yuk Wah 727
4. Clara Tam Sau Ngor 486
Total votes 3,761

For full Islands results click here.

Below is how the elected half of the IDC will look like from January 1. Of course, to ensure democracy isn’t going to run riot, it also includes eight ex officio rural committee chairmen.

New IDC Elected Members

Lantau: Randy Yu, independent/Heung Yee Kuk (new member; previously appointed)

Yat Tung North: Bill Tang*, HKFTU

Yat Tung South: Eric Kwok, Democratic Party (new member)

Tung Chung North: Sammi Fu, New People’s Party (new member)

Tung Chung South: Holden Chow*, DAB (new member; previously appointed)

Discovery Bay: Amy Yung*, Civic Party

Peng Chau: Josephine Tsang* (uncontested)

Lamma: Yu Lai Fan*, DAB (uncontested)

Cheung Chau North: Lee Kwai Chun*, DAB

Cheung Chau South: Kwong Koon Wan* BPA

* = sitting member

View blog at: http://lantauconfidential.com/2015/11/23/post-election-time-to-pause-lantau-development/

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Pressenza editor’s further note on the Hong Kong-wide results of the 2015 District Council elections after monitoring South China Morning Post roundup.

Oriental Daily

Elected ‘Umbrella Soldiers’ set to change HK politics

At least eight so-called “Umbrella Soldiers” – the activists who used umbrellas to guard against tear gas and pepper spray during the 2014 demonstrations – have won in the past Sunday’s District Council elections, with the support of large numbers of young first-time voters. An analyst said the city’s political landscape might turn more local, more radical and more uncertain in future.

Apple Daily

Umbrella Soldiers gave young candidates an edge

Nine first-time election candidates in the District Council elections on Sunday, dubbed “Soldiers from the Umbrella Movement”, have successfully defeated incumbent District Councillors, mainly in Sha Tin, Tai Po and Wan Chai. An analyst said they had benefitted from the public’s rising political consciousness resulting from the Umbrella Movement and by an increased number of young voters.

Ming Pao Daily

Pro-gov’t camp voted into 70pc of District Council seats

Pro-establishment parties have still control 70 per cent of the District Council after securing 298 seats in Sunday elections. Pan-democrats managed to secure 106 seats, 14 more than in the last election.

Headline Daily

Make way for the girls, boys – HK district elections

Five young female councillors were elected from different political spectrums were among the victors in the District Council elections on Sunday. Three of them are Kwong Po-yin of newly formed group Youngspiration; activist Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying of Good Day Wan Chai, a group formed after the Occupy Central protests; and former Miss Hong Kong Pauline Yam Po-lam.

AM730

Neo Democrats emerges as big winner in DC elections

Newly-formed political party Neo Democrats has become the biggest winner in the latest District Council elections with an whopping nominee elected ratio of 94 per cent. An analyst said the Democratic Party, in particular, would need to reposition itself the most among those in the pan-democracy camp.