Starry Lee Wai-king, a graduate from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with professional status, is like a breath of fresh air to the political party with a 'leftist' image.

Her participation in the district council election surprised her mother, Lee admitted, while her friends found it difficult to understand why she was joining a 'left-wing' political party.

She joined the party in 2004 when it was at its lowest ebb.

The party suffered a landslide defeat in the district council election of the previous year, following the big march of July 1. The party had lost more than one-third of its seats, prompting chairman Tsang Yok-sing to shoulder responsibility and resign.

Through the district services, Lee had come to know many people from the party and felt impressed by their modesty and hard work.

They inspired Lee to join the party, even though her friends tried to dissuade her and told her that she did not fit the party image.

"I had struggled," she confessed. "But I thought it would carry special meaning in people's hearts if I joined them at their most difficult moments."

(HK Edition 03/12/2010 page4)