HONG KONG: Moves by the opposition camp to radicalize the current by-election debate are likely to increase public disapproval of the resignation of opposition lawmakers, predicts Chan Kin-man, associate professor and director of the Centre for Civil Society Studies at Chinese University.

The resignations of five lawmakers from the Civic Party and the League of Social Democrats took effect Friday. The resignation campaign calls for a de facto "referendum" and "uprising". The issue escalated after Albert Chan Wai-yip, one of the departing lawmakers, cried "Liberate Hong Kong!" at a rally organized by the two parties on Wednesday night.

"Using the words 'uprising' and 'liberation' will reduce the number of swing voters even further and lead to a decline of support for the opposition," Chan said.

In a previous survey conducted by Chinese University early this month, the support for the resignation was only 28 percent, while 56.7 percent of potential voters opposed. Chan said he expects the figure will climb to 60 percent of voters in opposition.

"The word 'uprising' has the connotation of overthrowing the regime," said Tso Wung-wai, a deputy of the National People's Congress. He indicated the opposition's action is "ridiculous" and "non-constructive". "What they have done gives no benefit to Hong Kong's economic development and social stability, but is a ploy to increase political power," he said.

Chan does not worry the so-called "referendum" and "uprising" campaign may create chaos on the streets or confrontation between Hong Kong and the Central government. "The mainstream society doesn't agree with their actions, and the editorials of the main newspapers are also against them," Chan said.

(HK Edition 01/30/2010 page1)