Security guards, hotpot meals and photo shoots among election expenses of Hong Kong hopefuls for new Legco constituency

Election expense accounts candidates filed to authorities show the biggest spender running in constituency shelled out HK$204,240 but failed to win a seat

City’s electoral laws set limits on campaign expenses to avoid candidates with big pockets having an unfair advantage

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Newly elected lawmakers meet the press in January. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 8:54pm, 2 May 2022Updated: 10:27pm, 2 May 2022

Election candidates splashed out money for private security guards, hotpot meals and image-building, among other items, as they campaigned to win seats in a new constituency of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council last December.

The Election Committee constituency in the restructured legislature was part of the Beijing-led electoral overhaul that sought to ensure only “patriots” could run for seats, a move critics said was aimed at barring the opposition camp. The constituency drew 51 candidates vying for 40 seats in the December 19 election.

Election expense accounts that the candidates filed to electoral authorities showed the top five big spenders were Tseng Chin-I, Gary Wong Chi-him, Tang Fei, Chan Yuet-ming and Kevin Sun Wei-yung.

Legco has been expanded to 90 members under Beijing’s electoral overhaul. Photo: Felix Wong

Tseng, Wong and Sun respectively spent HK$204,240, HK$199,626 and HK$190,007 on their campaigns. All three were, however, defeated.

Tang and Chan, who were both elected, reportedly spent HK$195,173 and HK$190,128 respectively.

Chan said of her costly election campaign: “I spent much money on putting up banners in various locations across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.

“Although my constituency is the Election Committee, when I get elected as a legislator, I do not only serve those electors on the committee. I serve all Hong Kong people.

Security guards, hotpot meals and photo shoots among election expenses of Hong Kong hopefuls for new Legco constituency

Election expense accounts candidates filed to authorities show the biggest spender running in constituency shelled out HK$204,240 but failed to win a seat City’s electoral laws set limits on campaign expenses to avoid candidates with big pockets having an unfair advantage

Election expense accounts candidates filed to authorities show the biggest spender running in constituency shelled out HK$204,240 but failed to win a seat

City’s electoral laws set limits on campaign expenses to avoid candidates with big pockets having an unfair advantage