HONG KONG—Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, a newly-elected member of the Legislative Council (LegCo), has reported to the police that death threats have been made against him and his family.
On Sept 5, Chu emerged as the “king of votes” after securing more than 84,000 votes in the New Territories West constituency. He wept a few times during his victory speech, saying that his fight against the collusion of the government, businesses, rural forces, and triads had exposed his family to political violence.
He said he hoped his young daughter could understand that what he was doing was for the future of Hong Kong.
“Her father will not be intimidated,” he said.
He revealed that on polling day, a car owned by a Yuen Long landlord tailed him from his home to a polling station.
Chu and his family have not gone home since polling day due to the death threats. On Sept. 8, he filed a police report at the Wan Chai Hong Kong Police headquarters.
This was one day after LegCo election candidate Ken Chow Wing-kan of the Liberal Party held a press conference to explain that he was forced to drop out of the election campaign for fear of people close to him being hurt.
Several people were at the police headquarters to give support to Chu: Nathan Law Kwun-chung, chairman of the Demosisto political party and newly-elected legislator; Lau Siu-lai, a newly-elected legislator; Leung Kwok-hung, a founding member of the League of Social Democrats; Joshua Wong, Demosisto secretary general; and Paul Zimmerman, a member of the Southern District Council.
They shouted, “We are all Eddie Chu. Down with political violence.” A number of residents from the New Territories West also came to support him.
Chu spoke to the media before he stepped into the police headquarters.
“When a legislator elected with 84,121 votes is unable to go home and his life is being threatened because of his political views, we have no more law to talk about,” he said. “All Hong Kong citizens will fear for their safety, and the people who voted for me will be exasperated.”
Chu said the death threats were not vengeful acts from triads, but a counter-attack by vested interest groups.
“We should have the freedom to express our political views. We will not yield under threat. This is my commitment to Hong Kong. I hope Hong Kong people are together with me in fighting for that. Fear and political violence shall not become part of our society,” he said.
The death threats have raised the concern of the Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC).
An assembly was held on Sept. 11 in Wan Chai to show support for Chu, and about 1,300 people showed up. Chu said at the assembly that only democracy could triumph over violence. He urged for the collusion of the government, businesses, rural forces, and triads to be demolished and for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to step down.
Edited by Sally Appert.
