When every vote counts, those scrambling for the 36 Hong Kong deputy seats on the National People's Congress might be forgiven for apparently lobbying for votes at the critical moment - despite a ban on vote canvassing on polling day. Dozens of contestants and their supporters crowded the main entry of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with placards bearing candidates' names. Some hopefuls personally greeted every passing elector. Among them was commercial-sector lawmaker Martin Liao Cheung-kong, who later turned out to have won the most support with 1,403 votes. "Shaking hands is not the same as vote canvassing," Liao, a barrister, said with a smile. Not to say, the 23 incumbents out of the 52 aspirants who are also electors had an advantage over the other candidates in lobbying for support, as they could make their last-ditch effort even inside the polling station. Colleen Lee
How old is old? At 60, new Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing probably doesn't see herself as geriatric yet. But some internet users saw it differently after her election on Sunday, dubbing her "Ah Po" or old woman. She was also criticised for inconsistency in making a last-minute decision to run after stating repeatedly that she wanted to make a complete retreat from the leadership. She had her supporters, though. A source said that Lau, who had been acting chair since former leader Albert Ho Chun-yan stepped down to take responsibility for the party's poor showing in the last election, had been persuaded to run by party veteran Yeung Sum. The source said Yeung thought the party needed a strong leader, as Hong Kong is facing a political "storm of unprecedented ferocity".
Another democrat noted that Lau was only a year older than Civic Party chairwoman Audrey Eu Yuet-mee, "so why is no one calling [Eu] 'Ah Po'? She won the party chairmanship uncontested. But Lau was directly elected through fierce competition. Who has the mandate?" Lauren Ho
