Ng Kuok Cheong a willing ‘fragment’

Pan-democratic legislators Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam San submitted their nomination lists yesterday to the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau.
The two lawmakers are to lead two different nomination lists – the Prosperous Democratic Macau Association and the New Democratic Macau Association.
Both nomination lists, according to legislator Ng, succeeded in collecting the necessary 500 signatures.
In fact, each group received up to 700 signatures from voters, according to legislator Au.
When asked if members from the New Macau Association (AMN) are within the nominated lists, Ng said that the world has entered the era of fragmentation of public will and he is willing to be one of the ‘fragments’ of society.
“The public and the media to a significant extent have integrated with the Internet,” commented Ng. “The big union era [in the old days] has ended.”
With the inevitable change of public will, Ng said the advantages of fragmentation are groups or individuals that will be more proactive and in depth in engaging.
However, fragmentation would also mean more attacks on each other.
“Like our neighbours, they call it ‘catching ghosts’ – which means people would attack those who are assigned by the Communist Party or Leung Chun-ying, the Hong Kong Chief Executive,” the legislator said.
Nonetheless, if the majority abandon the act of ‘catching ghosts’ and focus on their respective areas, Ng perceived that the phenomenon of fragmentation could be favourable.
“Fragments [can] have resonance,” said Ng.

Strategies
Meanwhile, legislator Au said the reason for splitting into two groups is to cultivate and attract more new blood.
“Of course, [splitting into two] would pose competition but we aim to invite more young people to participate in the city’s social events,” commented Au, adding that young candidates would become society’s valued assets just by participating even if some may fail to be elected.
On the other hand, Ng said there will be at least six candidates on one nomination list.
Both legislators revealed that time is still needed to confirm the number of candidates.
“My group will consist of people of both genders and different age groups,” said Ng.
With Ng working as a legislator since 1992 and Au since 2001, legislator Au said having more experience would not be advantageous in the new ‘fragmented’ era, given that many people can participate.
“In my opinion, we support democracy and hope that direct elections can happen in future legislative elections,” said Au. “For us, the existence of indirect elections is unbearable.”
Au added that all who participate in direct elections, in which candidates except opposition, could all be friends, despite candidates competing with each other.