NWSC Pulls Out Of Legco Poll "for Pan-dems' Unity"

The Neighbourhood and Worker's Service Centre (NWSC) said on Sunday it will not be running in the Legislative Council election this year.

The group earlier sparked controversy by suggesting it would ignore the results of a primary held by the pan-democratic camp.

On June 19, the NWSC announced that its serving lawmaker, Leung Yiu-chung, would come second in its four-candidate list behind chairman Lo Ngai-yin. They were vying for a seat in New Territories West.

The group said back then, it would push ahead with the ticket even if it loses in the camp's primary on July 11-12.

But now, the group said it wants to show it is not obsessed with winning a Legco seat, and will not be running for the camp's unity.

"We find it deeply regrettable that our proposal that all the teams should consider more data, such as a mid-term survey, before discussing whether to run or end their campaigns," the group said in a statement.

"It's unfortunate our proposal did not receive enough discussion."

The group said it had never considered ignoring the results of the primary.

It said the absence of a Legco seat will affect its work for the grassroots, but that will not stop it from fighting for social justice.