Lo Kin-hei Steps Up To Be Chair Of Democratic Party

District councillor Lo Kin-hei has been elected as the new chairman of the Democratic Party.

The 36-year-old was a vice-chair during the previous term and is the chair of Southern District Council.

And with no competitors for the top post in the party election, Lo will succeed Wu Chi-wai.

The Democratic Party was holding polls to select new members for its Central Committee and Disciplinary Committee, as well as its vice chairpersons.

Speaking to reporters after he's elected, Lo said the party wants to have a relatively new leadership, so as to have new ideas to face challenges.

He added that he hopes to meet with the press regularly to discuss social issues, but has yet to decide whether the party will send candidates to run in future elections.

One of the party's former members Ted Hui, who announced that he is going into exile, had his bank accounts frozen by authorities.

In response, Lo stressed that the Democratic party has been complying with rules over its financial reporting and auditing, and that "the authorities will always find an excuse if it wants to suppress someone."

Meanwhile, former lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, who resigned last month following the disqualification of four of his pan-democratic colleagues, has been picked as a vice chairperson.

Kwun Tong district councillor Edith Leung has been named as the other vice chairperson.