The nomination period for candidates for District Councilor for Lamma & Po Toi Islands has opened now till Sep 28.

Incumbent Yu Lai Fan will be standing for re-election, after winning 4 years ago unopposed, representing the DAB party.

New candidate, LSD party Executive member Damon Wong Chun Pong, is currently looking for nominating votes from registered voters. He sent me his election platform below yesterday.

Will there be one more candidate, after recent voter registration campaigning by the People Power party at the YSW ferry pier?

There will hopefully be some interesting and passionate election campaigns coming up. This forum and website will be open as a public, neutral platform to ALL candidates, voters and anybody to voice their opinions and appeals to voters well in time for the election on Nov 6.

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Another candidate, Paul Lau, from YSW, he submitted the registration this afternoon. Paul has been living on Lamma since 1997. I think you may find him familiar.

Election is just a month away but I haven't seen too much excitement brewing yet, even though we have 3 very different candidates this time.
No bilingual election platforms have been received yet from two of the candidates, but they have been promised to arrive very soon, probably this week.

I'll be happy to publish them here and in the Lamma-zine, treating all candidates equally and fairly as media regulations stipulate, at least for print and electronic media, but not yet for online media, but I'll follow them anyway.

But this free-speech forum is open to everybody to voice their own opinions freely, of course.

A few facts about this election, as I understand them so far:

There are about 2,400+ registered voters on Lamma and at least half of them are expected to cast their votes on Nov 6.

These election posters you see all over the walls of Yung Shue Wan already:
each one is numbered and has to have an A4-size permission form to be filled in by the owner of the wall where the poster is located, including details and even id card number of the owner.
It's fascinating to see where the posters are NOT displayed, but only a few local businesses have turned down the incumbent candidate so far.

All election campaign expenses need to be meticulously accounted for and the amount of paperwork almost makes assistants and party backing mandatory, a major problem for independent candidates like Paul Lau.

Media regulations for candidates are extremely restrictive and they have to be pretty low-key and low-publicity up to the election, not even allowed to be interviewed, advertise their candidacy in public events or get free publicity in the media. The DC election guidelines are in a massive book full of rules.

Candidates are required to register their blog posts, website entries and even their message and Likes in Facebook to the Election Commission two days IN ADVANCE!

Any type of benefit of any value to registered voters is strictly forbidden and would be hit with the full power of the ICAC, so no free meals, tours, gifts or dim sum.

They'll only get reimbursed for some campaign expenses AFTER the election, $11-12 per vote cast for them and with a huge amount of paperwork to be submitted.

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Paul Lau gets my vote. He's a decent fella and unlike Yu Lai Fan and her cronies won't be pushed around by developers, estate agents and crooks. Damon Wong looks a good sort too. The worry is that the anti-Yu Lai Fan vote will be split, allowing her back in.

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Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

Marc Antony,

Paul Lau is one of your neighbours, no?

Tell us a bit more, as many of us don't know him yet and his platform as an independent candidate is still a mystery.
It's been a while since I talked with him in the Football Court during a physical fitness exam we did during a Carnival.

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Not a neighbour exactly, but someone I've met a few times. I wouldn't claim to know him well and will want to see his manifesto before actually voting - but, he's a sociable, approachable guy, is reasonably bilingual and, I like to think, will diplomatically listen to views from both sides before deciding in favour of the environment.

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Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

a few more information.

Democratic planning: Fully consulting residents’ opinion and guarantee their rights of participation on major projects such as the wholesale reclamation of Yung Shue Wan harbour and redevelopment of the former quarry site in Sok Kwu Wan
Improving facilities for Lamma and Po Toi, including (for Lamma) properly designed bike parking throughout the island, providing shaded sitting and play areas, providing better access to the water those who like fishing and watersports, ensuring a coherent and fair system for sewage connection, establishing community noticeboards, beautification of the waterfront, better recycling and waste management facilities and appropriate selection of materials for public works projects
Developing local economy and support local small businesses. As tourist destinations, Lamma and Po Toi deserve moret comprehensive tourism and environmental policies. Facilities on both Lamma and Po Toi have great room for improvement, so that visitors can enjoy and appreciate the natural surrounding, culture and history of these islands
Strengthening the regulation of ferry services and the transparency of tender procedures
Striving to provide 24-hour medical service in Yung Shue Wan Clinic
Preventing the indiscriminate dumping of construction waste and littering
Mobilizing the community to participate in beautifying and cleaning the environment
Working with the community to develop a calendar of sports and community events, such as picnics and dining activities, throughout the year
Supporting local residents to pursue green initiatives for the benefit of the community, organizing local farms
Universal suffrage for District Council, Legislative Council and Chief Executive elections

And saves the Turtles of Sham Wan, and legalizes Gaia Forest as a REAL forest to be protected, and who convinces the YMCA, to let scouts go camping in the Quarry. I'll be perfect for the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Hong Kong Award for Young People).

Bullfrog writes in topic "Yu Lai Fan's latest pamphlet":
(His post was merged into this DC Elections topic):

"Did anyone get hold of the latest election materials from Yu Lai Fan this morning? In any other country taht type of electrion platform reads like a nightmare. The only thing she thinks worth "fighting for" to the benefit of all inhabitants of Lamma are infrastructure projects. Oh yes, and less 'dangerous trees'. I guess she claims special credit for fencing them in so that you cannot actually see the trunk anymore. Oh yes and flood drainage she also takes credit once more, probably for the stretch of stench in black next to the sampan restaurant.
It seems a very backward kind of platform, but hey this is Hong Kong, right?

The latest one being to add a roof to the Pier. I have no confidence in any of her plans. How will this roof look like? Will it look as ugly as the roof leading to the Star Ferry, blocking our view of the sky and mountains and even the beautiful power plant as the star ferry bridge did closing out the entire Harbour panorama with steel girders and an office like flat top roof? Roofs are no bad idea – but it seems our representative is just looking for things to do, rather than things to improve.

Anyway, thanks Yu Lai Fan, let's hope bad blood and greed among the local villagers how to divide up those construction spoils get so bad nothing will ever happen. It would not be so bad if not we all knew how bad the planning is, and even worse the execution.

Suspcicously absent is the fill-in-Lamma-harbour plan, but the emergency route access problem is still mentioned. As well as her bicycle parking lot.

So what about that young guy competing against her, will he stand any chance against all these pork projects?"

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But, I'm sure Alan the mod here said I was too late for registering (at Immergration Tower I applied for "an election", but I asked Alan if I Was also allowed to vote her on Lamma. Since I'm a newb. of only 5 months. oh well if I'm on the list I'm on the list.

Since the DAB candidate didn't apply her platform, in Canadian English eh? I cant's voooooooute for her. As a digger of Garbage in the Sha Po landfill you know where..... I say NO MORE cement GOO! Since DAB lady's projects and "development" means more cement GOO, I will not vote for her. I hate CEMENT GOO. I just want to give Old man C a surprise so he can enjoy a garden.... So VV drivers. if you are tired of my cement Goo, just think how much Cement GOO this DAB candidate will make for you. Dont' vote for Cement Goo girl.

Da Fate of Lamma Island, and all the cute little children and the Green Turtles, and the little Doggies, and Desiles, and and and and.... baby turtles.....

May the best fighter win..... (I'm cheering for Raiden(aka DW). Melessia (a mutant ninja chick). = DAB-Y.....




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAwWPadFsOA

Are you mad Vannoclamma? None of your posts make any sense!

Could I suggest we all vote for the same newcomer to give the best chance to get rid of the current moron???

I agree Vanno could do with an editor, though he does seem to enjoy his ramblings. Perhaps he should stand for election?

Also agree the vote is tricky - obviously if we split the anti-YLF vote we increase her chances of concreting the entire island. At least she makes it clear she's a concrete lover in her bumpf - so you know what to expect.

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Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

SSL956,

i am going to vote for Damon Wong (Wong Chun Pong) and i invite people to do the same for the following reasons:

He has a proven track-record of political engagement.
Long before running for the Lamma and Po Toi seat he had been active in several campaigns to protect HK heritage and environment, spearheaded the campaign against The Baroque on Lamma, he is actively working with Lamma green groups and not just using a green agenda to win votes. He stands firmly in the pro-democracy camp.
Last but not least, he is the only candidate that can easily be reached by email and anybody can write to him and get a straight answer about what he stands for. (the other two didn't bother to add their contact details on their banners and posters!)

Paul Lau, on the other hand, never bothered to approach groups or individuals who are working hard to clean up Lamma and protect the environment. He decided to run AFTER Wong Chun Pong registered as a candidate, which was a really bad decision as it can potentially split the opposition votes and favour Yu Lai Fan, whose track record as District Councillor is in everybody's eyes.

There are too many reasons why i would never vote for Yu Lai Fan, but just to list a few: she has contributed to the uglification of Lamma, cares more for concrete than nature, has repeatedly urged the Islands District Office to speed up the reclamation of Yung Shue Wan harbour, wants to see a high-rise public housing estate in the ex-Quarry in SKW, supports a marina and luxury development (The Baroque on Lamma) in Tung O, and yet makes no mention of any of these projects in her platform! She is hell-bent on building a ridiculously expensive bike park that is badly designed and in the wrong location. When Living Lamma pointed out that the proposed bike park would exacerbate the congestion instead of solving it, her reply was "never mind, we will ask the government for more money to widen the path". It seems that pouring more concrete is always her preferred solution.

She is supported by the DAB, Beijing's long arm in HK, a party that organized marches against the recent court ruling in favour of domestic helpers' right of abode, a party that claims to help low-income residents and yet always sides with developers, and all the most powerful lobbies in HK.

At the mo I'm inclined to agree with FB and vote for Damon Wong. I was originally inclined to vote for Paul Lau but he doesn't seem to have made much effort to get his message across while Damon has. I wonder, has anyone stood against YLF before? Anyone know?

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Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

My vote is also with Damon, my only concern is that he is young and will he have the grit to stand up to all the local bullies and big developers? Hopefully we will find out!

Like you mentioned he is easy to communicate with - he responded to my email within a couple of days. I also emailed YLF just to be fair and she didnt even reply!!!

Mark Anthony,
Alex Chan (Citizens Party) stood against Yu Lai Fan 8 years ago.

Back then few non-indigenous residents had bothered to register as voters so, despite winning a lot of verbal support, he lost because many of his supporters couldn't vote.. Now we have a better chance.

Usually there is at least one other candidate, who you never hear much from.

The last serious one was Alex Chan in 2003, when she was first elected, taking over from Fung Loi, as far as I can recall.

Alex Chan, Chair of the Citizens Party, 8 years ago.

He managed to get around a third of votes after an impressive hands-on campaign, even going from house to house, quite a respectable success for a former unknown who didn't even live here. I interviewed him back then in 2003 - "Lammadonna vs. Big Guy" - and did quite a few stories and loads of posts in this forum about the election.

Back then and now, I couldn't get an interview with Lammadonna. The election guidelines have become very strict for candidates AND media since then, especially re: online media, making two of the candidates extremely shy of free online "publicity". Paul Lau even got kind of a "warning" from the election commission about a friend posting his platform in this forum, without him informing the commission beforehand. Damon is obviously very savvy in online media, using them very well and effectively.

But with a split vote this time, the outcome can hardly be in any doubt.

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