1988 Hong Kong local elections

Overview

The election oversaw the increasing influence of the political groups in the local elections. The three major emerging pro-democratic groups, which later evolved into today's pro-democracy camp, the Meeting Point, Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood and Hong Kong Affairs Society were the strategic allies against the conservative kaifong leaders in the election. The older political organisation, the Hong Kong Civic Association cooperated with Maria Tam's Progressive Hong Kong Society, while the Progressive Hong Kong Society and the pro-Beijing leftist Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions remained in low-profile in the election.

Some candidates who used to be closely associated with older conservative groups were switching over to the younger liberal camps, such as Vivien Chan stood for the Reform Club of Hong Kong in 1985 and was claimed to be one of the influential members in the club had moved over to the Hong Kong Affairs Society. Tony Kan Chung-nin had also swung away from Maria Tam's conservative Progressive Hong Kong Society to the liberal Hong Kong Affairs Society.

In this election, the Meeting Point had built a power base in Tuen Mun while the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood in Sham Shui Po. The Hong Kong Affairs Society had its power base in Sha Tin while it tried to test their strength in the Eastern District, Wan Chai and Central and Western District, and tried to break the dominance of the older conservative Civic Association. The Reform Club tried to recapture a power base in the Eastern District under the umbrella of Brook Bernacchi and concentrated its resources in Yau Ma Tei under Kwan Lim-ho.

The turnout rate of 30.31 per cent was recorded, 7 points lower than the last election in 1985.

General outcome

|- ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=2 |Political Affiliation ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |Popular vote ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |% ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |Standing ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |Elected |- | 65,338 || 10.25 || 32 || 27 |- | 36,666 || 5.75 || 22 || 17 |- | 42,397 || 6.65 || 31 || 16 |- | 41,878 || 6.57 || 23 || 16 |- | 9,570 || 1.50 || 7 || 2 |- | 3,360 || 0.53 || 2 || 2 |- | 438,190 || 68.75 || 376 || 183 |- |}

References

References

1. (17 January 1988). "公民協會積極參與區選舉 推舉卅一人競選 與勵進會合作互相協助爭取出線 張有興陳若瑟陳子鈞未定參選否". Wah Kiu Yat Po.
2. Camen, Jane. (22 January 1988). "Politics comes of age". Hong Kong Standard.
3. (11 March 1988). "四十二萬四千多選民投票 區選投票率下降僅百分卅點三一". Wah Kiu Yat Po.