DAB: District Council election to be a new start for HK

The elections of new district councilors in November will offer an opportunity for Hong Kong to start over, said Hong Kong's largest political party on Friday, a day after it announced 179 candidates from the party would stand for the elections.

At the opening campaign on Friday morning, Starry Lee Wai-king, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said the Hong Kong government should ensure the local elections take place in an undisturbed and peaceful manner that would allow voters to voice their political views.

Her remarks came after DAB branch offices in Tai Po were vandalized by anti-government radicals again on Thursday night. At least 21 DAB branch offices in different locations have been vandalized in the past three months.

Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, vice-chairman of DAB, who will also run for this year's election, said it is time to bring peace to local communities, as many residents have become increasingly concerned about their personal safety amid escalating anti-government protests.

Lee expressed her confidence in the "one country, two systems" principle which can carry the city through "the most difficult times".

A total of 179 DAB members will run for the council seats this year, compared to 170 in the 2015 local elections in which 119 DAB nominees won.

One of the district councilors' main functions is to advise the government on matters affecting the well-being of residents in their respective districts.

The 2019 Sixth Hong Kong District Council elections in all 18 districts are scheduled on November 24.

Separately, Hong Kong's Legislative Council is set to resume on October 16 when the Chief Executive will deliver her annual Policy Address. The extradition bill, which sparked the months of street protests will be officially withdrawn on that day.