Neo Democrats

{{EngvarB|date=August 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox political party | name = Neo Democrats | native_name = {{lang|yue-HK|{{noitalics|{{nobold|新民主同盟}}}}}} | logo = Logo of Neo Democrats.svg | logo_size = 180px | leader1_title = Convenors | leader1_name = [[Yam Kai-bong]] Chow Yuen-wai Lui Man-kwong | colorcode = #F9B924 | country = Hong Kong | foundation = {{start date|df=yes|2010|10|02}} | dissolved = {{end date|df=yes|2021|06|26}} | headquarters = Flat F, 22/F, 6–20 Yin Chong Street, [[Kowloon]] | split = [[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]] | affiliation1_title = Regional affiliation | affiliation1 = [[Pro-democracy camp (Hong Kong)|Pro-democracy camp]] | ideology = [[Localism (politics)|Localism]] ([[Localism in Hong Kong|HK]]) [[Liberalism]] ([[Liberalism in Hong Kong|HK]]) [[Populism]] | position =  | colours = {{colour box|{{party color|Neo Democrats}}}} Gold/Orange | website = {{URL|neodemocrats.hk/}}(defunct) }} {{Infobox Chinese | order = jp | showflag = stp | t = 新民主同盟 | j = San1 Man4 zyu2 Tung4 mang4 | y = Sān Màhn jyú Tùhng màhng }} {{Politics of Hong Kong}}

The '''Neo Democrats''' was a [[Pro-democracy camp (Hong Kong)|pro-democracy]], [[localism in Hong Kong|localist]] political group in Hong Kong composed mainly of former and disenchanted members of the [[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]] [[New Territories East (constituency)|New Territories East]] branch after the [[2010 Hong Kong electoral reform|2012 constitutional reform proposals]]. It had held one seat in the Legislative Council until [[Gary Fan]] lost his re-election in the [[2016 Hong Kong legislative election|2016 Legislative Council election]].<ref name=Standard20Dec10>[http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?sid=30685198&art_id=106201&con_type=1&pp_cat=12 Democrats lick wounds as 30 reform radicals quit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116100413/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=106201&sid=30685198&con_type=1 |date=16 January 2011 }}, The Standard, Colleen Lee, 20 December 2010</ref> Fan won the seat back in the [[2018 New Territories East by-election|2018 by-election]], but lost his seat after a court declared that he was not duly elected.<ref name="hongkongfp.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/12/17/breaking-pro-democracy-lawmakers-au-nok-hin-gary-fan-lose-seats-hong-kongs-top-court-rejects-election-petition-appeals/|title=Pro-democracy lawmakers Au Nok-hin and Gary Fan lose seats as Hong Kong's top court rejects election petition appeals|date=17 December 2019|website=Hong Kong Free Press|language=en-GB|access-date=29 December 2019|archive-date=29 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229153331/https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/12/17/breaking-pro-democracy-lawmakers-au-nok-hin-gary-fan-lose-seats-hong-kongs-top-court-rejects-election-petition-appeals/|url-status=live}}</ref> It held 8 seats in the [[District Councils of Hong Kong|District Councils]] before its dissolution on 26 June 2021.<ref name=disbandment>{{Cite web|title=Neo Democrats announce their disbandment|url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1597838-20210626.htm?|access-date=26 June 2021|website=rthk|language=en-gb}}</ref>

==Formation== The Neo Democrats identified themselves initially as a grouping within the Democratic Party, opposed to its rejection of the [[Five Constituencies Referendum]] and concessions towards [[Government of the People's Republic of China|Beijing]] that the party was offering in the run-up to the LegCo vote on the [[Consultation Document on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive and for Forming the LegCo in 2012|Hong Kong government's proposals for democratic reform]]. It said it aimed to repair the damaged relationship between the Democratic Party and its pan-democratic allies.<ref>[http://www.sinoptic.ch/hongkong/archives/2010/201010.htm Press review by Swiss Consulate General] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003225819/http://www.sinoptic.ch/hongkong/archives/2010/201010.htm |date=3 October 2011 }}, Oct 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2011</ref>

As the Neo Democrats styled themselves a continuation of the [[United Democrats of Hong Kong]], they chose to found the group on an anniversary of both the dissolution of UDHK and the foundation of the Democratic Party.

Then on 19 December 2010, thirty members including seven district councillors in the [[New Territories East (constituency)|New Territories East]] resigned from the Democratic Party to formally create the new group. The departees included former party vice-chairman [[Chan King-ming]] and at least five other founding members, together representing around ten per cent of the Democratic Party's district councillors and just under five per cent of its membership.<ref name=Standard20Dec10/>

==Organisation and membership== Members of the group include [[Gary Fan]], Leung Li and Cheung Kwok-keung,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/sk_d/english/member_detail.htm |title=Sai Kung District Council Members (2008–2011) |access-date=24 January 2011 |archive-date=1 August 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050801091241/http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/sk_d/english/member_detail.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and former Democratic Party vice-chairman [[Chan King-ming]].

The Neo Democrats' leadership comprises four convenors who serve six-month terms. Convenors currently include Gary Fan.<ref>[http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?main&20110123&56&729169 Neo Democrats set out their store] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001161737/http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?main&20110123&56&729169 |date=1 October 2012 }}, RTHK, 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011</ref>

==Immigration and localism== The Neo Democrats represented by [[Gary Fan]] have called for the government to take back the approval rights on one-way permits from Chinese authorities and to reduce the quota of such permits for applicants not under the family reunion category.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=138471&sid=40622151&con_type=1&d_str=20131015&fc=1|title=Lawmakers deny bias against mainlanders|date=15 October 2013|newspaper=The Standard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103210024/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=138471&sid=40622151&con_type=1&d_str=20131015&fc=1|archive-date=3 November 2013}}</ref> Fan also refers to immigrants from mainland China and the quota of 150 daily permits as "the root of the housing problem".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1331746/lawmakers-gary-fan-and-claudia-mo-take-disingenuous-stand|title=Lawmakers Gary Fan and Claudia Mo take disingenuous stand on housing|first=Alex|last=Lo|date=15 October 2013|newspaper=South China Morning Post|access-date=1 November 2013|archive-date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017022953/http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1331746/lawmakers-gary-fan-and-claudia-mo-take-disingenuous-stand|url-status=live}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

In September 2013, Gary Fan co-sponsored a controversial ad which claimed that cutting people from the source of immigration would help the people of Hong Kong to get to the bottom of the housing problem, while rejecting claims of bias or discrimination against mainlanders,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1331352/legislators-defend-controversial-advert-mainland-migrants|title=Legislators defend controversial advert on mainland migrants|first=Tanna|last=Chong|date=14 October 2013|newspaper=South China Morning Post|access-date=1 November 2013|archive-date=15 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015203943/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1331352/legislators-defend-controversial-advert-mainland-migrants|url-status=live}}</ref> despite condemnation from the [[Equal Opportunities Commission (Hong Kong)|Equal Opportunities Commission]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1330378/head-equality-watchdog-condemns-lawmakers-ad-mainland-migrants|title=Head of equality watchdog condemns lawmakers' ad on mainland migrants|first=Joshua|last=But|date=12 October 2013|newspaper=South China Morning Post|access-date=1 November 2013|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103193228/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1330378/head-equality-watchdog-condemns-lawmakers-ad-mainland-migrants|url-status=live}}</ref> Fan later introduced a motion on adhering to the need to "put Hong Kong people first" in formulating policies, but the motion was ultimately defeated.<ref name="legco.gov.hk">{{cite web|url=http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr13-14/chinese/counmtg/voting/v2013103011.pdf|title=Legislative Council of Hong Kong|access-date=1 November 2013|archive-date=4 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104043154/http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr13-14/chinese/counmtg/voting/v2013103011.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Fan's motion was rejected by both camps of pro-Beijing and pan-democrats.

==Electoral politics== In the [[2015 Hong Kong local elections|2015 District Council election]], Neo Democrats became the best performers when 15 out of their 16 candidates fielded won, the total number of seats having increased from 7 to 15 since the previous election.<ref name=ejinsight20151123>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20151123-message-from-the-district-council-election/ |title=What's the message from the district council election? |access-date=21 March 2022 |archive-date=24 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124163243/http://www.ejinsight.com/20151123-message-from-the-district-council-election/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They became one of the most successful groups within the pan-democrats camp.

[[Frankie Lam]] returned to Neo Democrat in April 2016. He is a [[Sai Kung District Council]] member and was a Neo Democrat member in 2010, before the group formally split from the Democratic Party. Lam decided to remain in the Democratic Party until 2016, due to Neo Democrat is the largest pan-democrat party in Sai Kung District Council.

In the [[2016 Hong Kong legislative election|2016 Legislative Council election]], the Neo Democrats initially planned to field candidates in [[Kowloon East (constituency)|Kowloon East]], [[New Territories West (constituency)|New Territories West]], [[District Council (Second)]], as well as seek for re-election in its incumbent New Territories East seat. It later decided to field two lists in New Territories East and District Council (Second) "super seat" despite the group's breakaway from the Democratic Party due to its opposition to the creation of the five "super seats" in 2010. Kwan Wing-yip, Neo Democrats' District Council (Second) candidate, refused to join the pan-democracy camp's coordination plan initiated by [[Benny Tai]] to avoid splitting the pro-democracy votes, abandoned his campaign one day before the election due to the pressure to help the pan-democracy camp to win three seats. As a result, Kwan's ticket won only 1.24 per cent of the vote share and its sole legislator Gary Fan lost his re-election in New Territories East by winning 5.44 per cent of the vote share. Three [[Sha Tin District Council]]lors, Billy Chan Shiu-yeung, Chiu Chu-pong and Yau Man-chun, defected to former legislator [[Andrew Cheng]] during the election were expelled from the party on 6 September.<ref>{{cite news|title=Defections within his party led to loss to pro-estab. candidate, says Neo Democrat Gary Fan|date=8 September 2016|first=Stanley|last=Leung|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/09/08/defections-within-party-led-loss-pro-estab-candidate-says-neo-democrat-gary-fan/|access-date=13 September 2016|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410030225/https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/09/08/defections-within-party-led-loss-pro-estab-candidate-says-neo-democrat-gary-fan/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fan returned to the Legislative Council in the [[2018 New Territories East by-election|2018 New Territories by-election]] following the disqualification of localist [[Baggio Leung]] of [[Youngspiration]] over the [[Hong Kong Legislative Council oath-taking controversy|Legislative Council oath-taking controversy]] in March. He was elected with more than 180,000 votes, defeating the pro-China common candidate [[Tang Ka-piu]] of the [[Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions]] (FTU) and the [[Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong]] (DAB).<ref>{{cite web|title=Election Result – New Territories East|work=Electoral Affairs Commission|url=http://www.elections.gov.hk/legco2018by/eng/rs_gc_LC5.html|access-date=11 March 2018|archive-date=12 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312022556/http://www.elections.gov.hk/legco2018by/eng/rs_gc_LC5.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was then removed from the Legislative Council after the Court of Final Appeal declined to hear an appeal from a lower court which held that he was not duly elected as the Returning Officer for the election disqualified another candidate who was not given an opportunity to respond.<ref name="hongkongfp.com"/>

== Disbandment == The Neo Democrats announced the disbandment on 26 June 2021. The group said Hong Kong had undergone drastic changes over the past two years and the political environment now was much worse than before, and most of its district councillors agreed to dissolve the party.<ref name="disbandment" />

Former Neo Democrat members Gary Fan, Roy Tam and Ben Chung are among 47 pro-democracy figures charged with subversion for taking part in the camp's primaries for Legco elections last year. The three have been remanded in custody since late February.<ref name="disbandment" />

==Electoral performance==

===Legislative council elections=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" |- align = "center" ! '''Election''' ! Number of popular votes ! % of popular votes ! [[Geographical constituency|GC]] seats ! [[Functional constituency (Hong Kong)|FC]] seats ! Total seats ! +/− ! Position |- ! [[2012 Hong Kong legislative election|2012]] | 28,621{{steady}} | 1.58{{steady}} | 1 | 0 | {{Composition bar|1|70|hex={{party color|Neo Democrats}}}} | 1{{increase}} | 10th{{increase}} |- ! [[2016 Hong Kong legislative election|2016]] | 31,595{{increase}} | 1.46{{decrease}} | 0 | 0 | {{Composition bar|0|70|hex={{party color|Neo Democrats}}}} | – | – |}

===District council elections=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" |-align=center ! Election ! Number of popular votes ! % of popular votes ! Total elected seats ! +/− |- ! [[2011 Hong Kong local elections|2011]] | 25,437{{steady}} | 2.15{{steady}} | {{Composition bar|8|412|hex={{party color|Neo Democrats}}}} | 8{{increase}} |- ! [[2015 Hong Kong local elections|2015]] | 42,148{{increase}} | 2.92{{increase}} | {{Composition bar|15|431|hex={{party color|Neo Democrats}}}} | 7{{increase}} |- ! [[2019 Hong Kong local elections|2019]] | 87,923{{increase}} | 3.00{{increase}} | {{Composition bar|19|452|hex={{party color|Neo Democrats}}}} | 4{{increase}} |}

== See also == * [[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)]] * [[Pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong|Pan-democracy camp]] * [[Claudia Mo]] * [[HK First]]

== References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.neodemocrats.hk/}}

[[Category:Neo Democrats| ]] [[Category:Political parties in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Political parties established in 2010]] [[Category:2010 establishments in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Political parties disestablished in 2021]] [[Category:2021 disestablishments in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Liberal parties in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Localist parties in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Breakways of Democratic Party (Hong Kong)]]