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HONG KONG : Campaigning for Hong Kong's Legislative Council election is heating up, as candidates use these last few days to rein in supporters before the polls on Sunday.
Political analysts said the pro-Beijing DAB (Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong) party has a good chance of keeping its stronghold in parliament, but some well-known lawmakers could lose their seats.
Out of the major political parties, the pro-Beijing DAB currently has the largest presence in parliament, with 12 seats.
Veteran lawmaker Choy So-yuk of the DAB is among the contenders out and about canvassing for voters' support.
Despite being a famous face within the pro-Beijing camp, recent polls show there is a chance Choy may lose her seat this year, as she is running second to DAB founding chairman Tsang Yok-sing on her party's ticket.
"I'm neither nervous nor confident. Actually, I am taking it easy. Whatever will be, will be," said Choy.
The pro-Beijing camp has dominated parliament over the last four years, holding 35 out of 60 seats. Half of the seats are directly elected.
Polls show the pan-democrats' push for greater democracy has taken a backseat to concerns about inflation, which could give their rivals an edge.
"We have been doing a lot in the past 10, 11 years, especially on people's livelihood. We hope that now we could reap some of the fruits from the seeds we have sown over the past years," said Choy.
Political analysts said the DAB party appeals to voters because of its extensive resources and the public's recent excitement over the Olympics.
Joseph Cheng, professor of Political Science at City University of Hong Kong, said: "It identifies with China, it tries to appeal to patriotism, nationalism, and it promotes grassroots services."
More than 200 candidates are in the running for this year's polls. Although the election is just days away, it is still hard to get a clear picture of what the outcome will be.
Political analysts said a record number of candidates running on so many different tickets is confusing for voters, leaving the results hard to predict. - CNA /ls
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