Unfair If I Have To Quit Election: Starry Lee

DAB chairwoman Starry Lee on Friday dismissed suggestions for her to pull out of the election for chairperson of Legco’s House Committee, saying such a move would be an “injustice”.

The committee’s vice-chairman, Dennis Kwok of the Civic Party has been presiding over meetings to elect a chair, but filibustering by the pan-dems means the position has remained vacant since Legco came back after the summer recess last year.

But Lee rejected calls for her to quit the election so she can chair the meetings instead of Kwok.

“We must uphold the fairness of the election. It’s injustice and illegal if anyone forces another candidate to pull out from the election using any means. We will not accept that,” she said.

Lee also made it clear that she wants to stop any lawmaker from the pan-democratic camp from becoming the chairman of the House Committee.

“There are two camps in the council. If I pull out from the election, someone from the other camp may become the chairman of the House Committee and they can achieve their political aim. My supporters may not accept it. The Legco may not be able to function smoothly,” she said.

Although the committee has failed to select a chairperson for six months now, the issue has suddenly been thrust into the spotlight by repeated complaints about the situation by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and Beijing's liaison office.

They've accused the pan-dems, and Kwok in particular, of misconduct in public office and have urged the SAR government to take action against the lawmakers.

The two central government offices have in turn been accused of interfering in Hong Kong affairs, a charge they deny.