Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), formerly known as Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, is the largest pro-Beijing
political party in Hong Kong
. The party was founded on 10 July 1992 and is currently headed by Tam Yiu Chung
.
(HKPA) allied with each other in the crucial Provisional Legislative Council
debate on the substantial arrangements for the 1998 elections
. This move was tacitly endorsed by the Heung Yee Kuk
, and heralded as the unofficial merger of the parties. Critics labelled the union as the "Democratic Progressive Party
of Hong Kong".
A formal merger with the HKPA was announced on 16 February 2005. The two parties were merged with new leadership selected on 31 May 2005. The group was formed with the assistance of the Xinhua News Agency
. and at the time was the public face of the Communist Party of China
in Hong Kong. It reportedly received financial support from leftist trade unions and support from Mainland Chinese
sources under British colonial rule.
The party is known for stressing the "one country" part of the "One country, two systems
" principle. As for issues on democratic reform, it take a position to support slower pace in relative to what the Democratic Party of Hong Kong supports, DAB claims by doing so stability and prosperity will be achieved.
The party's main claim is that it is natural for ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong to be "patriotic" and pro-PRC
.
(LegCo). The 1995 LegCo elections increased the DAB's share to six seats. After 1997 when Hong Kong was transferred
to the People's Republic of China (PRC), DAB enjoyed political favour from the PRC, and gained a number of seats in Legco through Functional Constituency election which was deemed unfair, and they remain unfavour in local district direct election. In 2000 it had ten councillors in Legco. The most recent Legislative Council election in 2004, it become the largest (by number) political party to be represented with 12 seats, with the Liberal Party coming second (10 seats), with the Democratic Party coming third (9 seats).
Twelve district councilors joined the party on its formation, a share that increased to 37 seats in the 1994 elections and 83 in 1999. In the wake of the controversies over the legislation of Article 23
of the Basic Law in 2003, the party's popularity dropped drastically and the November 2003 District Councils elections saw its seats drop to 62. The election results have led to the resignation of its former Chairman, Jasper Tsang Yok-sing. However, as Ma Lik had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer from 2004 until his death in 2007, Tsang still effectively controls the DAB.
The DAB and its sister organisation HKFTU
are well-known for their ability to mobilize their supporters, including employees of PRC state-owned companies, to vote for their candidates in elections. In the 2004 Legislative Council election, they managed to exploit the proportional representation electoral system to equalise votes for two of the candidates the party endorsed standing in the same constituency. Although support of Chan Yuen Han
(DAB) was far higher than Chan Kam Lam (HKFTU), according to earlier polls, the two organisations managed to have both elected. At another constituency, the ticket of Ma Lik
and Choy So Yuk
ultimately benefitted from a democratic camp mix-up that led to the resignation of the Democratic Party's leader, Yeung Sum
.
participated in the Hong Kong 1967 Leftist Riots. He was arrested and jailed for two years for distributing "inflammatory leaflets"
provoked widespread condemnation within the local community when he claimed that "there was not a massacre" during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
, as there was "no intentional and indiscriminate shooting". He said the popular belief of foreigners' "rash claims" that a massacre took place showed Hong Kong's lack of maturity. He said that Hong Kong showed, through this lack of patriotism and national identity, that it would thus "not be ready for democracy until 2022".
Vice Chairman Tam Yiu Chung
defended Ma, but questioned the timing: "people will understand it gradually". However, Vice Chairman Lau Kong Wah, immediately offered to apologise, and distanced the party from Ma, saying that Ma had expressed "a personal opinion". The DAB Central committee declined any further action against Ma following their meeting, and there was no official apology.
Central People's Government
The Central People's Government is the central government of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. According to the 1982 Constitution, "Central People's Government" is synonymous with the State Council.-History:...
political party in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. The party was founded on 10 July 1992 and is currently headed by Tam Yiu Chung
Tam Yiu Chung
Tam Yiu-chung, GBS, JP, is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, representing the New Territories West constituency. He was a member of the Executive Council from 1997 to 2002...
.
History
The DAB and the Hong Kong Progressive AllianceHong Kong Progressive Alliance
The Hong Kong Progressive Alliance was a political party in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. It was established in July 1994, and is composed of mainly businessmen and professionals. The party is considered a pro-business and pro-Beijing one. It...
(HKPA) allied with each other in the crucial Provisional Legislative Council
Provisional Legislative Council
The Provisional Legislative Council or the PLC was the interim legislature of Hong Kong from 1997 to 1998. The legislature was founded in Guangzhou and sat in Shenzhen from 1996 until the handover in 1997 and moved to Hong Kong to serves as the temporary replacement of Legislative Council of Hong...
debate on the substantial arrangements for the 1998 elections
Hong Kong legislative election, 1998
The 1998 Hong Kong legislative election for members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong was held on 24 May 1998. The elections returned 20 members from directly elected geographical constituencies and 30 members from functional constituencies, of which 10 were uncontested.-Geographical...
. This move was tacitly endorsed by the Heung Yee Kuk
Heung Yee Kuk
The Heung Yee Kuk is a statutory advisory body representing the indigenous inhabitants of New Territories, Hong Kong.Colloquially shortened to 'the Kuk'.-History:...
, and heralded as the unofficial merger of the parties. Critics labelled the union as the "Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
of Hong Kong".
A formal merger with the HKPA was announced on 16 February 2005. The two parties were merged with new leadership selected on 31 May 2005. The group was formed with the assistance of the Xinhua News Agency
Xinhua News Agency
The Xinhua News Agency is the official press agency of the government of the People's Republic of China and the biggest center for collecting information and press conferences in the PRC. It is the largest news agency in the PRC, ahead of the China News Service...
. and at the time was the public face of the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
in Hong Kong. It reportedly received financial support from leftist trade unions and support from Mainland Chinese
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
sources under British colonial rule.
The party is known for stressing the "one country" part of the "One country, two systems
One country, two systems
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China , for the reunification of China during the early 1980s...
" principle. As for issues on democratic reform, it take a position to support slower pace in relative to what the Democratic Party of Hong Kong supports, DAB claims by doing so stability and prosperity will be achieved.
The party's main claim is that it is natural for ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong to be "patriotic" and pro-PRC
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Party beliefs
The late DAB chairman Ma Lik (in July 2005) listed the party's four objectives:- furthering co-operation between Hong Kong and the mainland, promoting mutual trust, and creating win-win opportunities economically.
- "constructive monitor" of the SAR government, scrutinising various government policies and decisions, providing "constructive policy alternatives" whilst securing the progress, prosperity, social stability and harmony for Hong Kong.
- to break down social barriers based on the common interest of Hong Kong; to strengthen communications with Hong Kong residents to better reflect their opinion; to be more accountable to the public.
- to nurture political talent by committing the necessary funding, organising training, providing opportunities for those who want to take part in politics.
Elections
The party started with a single seat on the Legislative CouncilLegislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
(LegCo). The 1995 LegCo elections increased the DAB's share to six seats. After 1997 when Hong Kong was transferred
Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, referred to as ‘the Return’ or ‘the Reunification’ by the Chinese and ‘the Handover’ by others, took place on 1 July 1997...
to the People's Republic of China (PRC), DAB enjoyed political favour from the PRC, and gained a number of seats in Legco through Functional Constituency election which was deemed unfair, and they remain unfavour in local district direct election. In 2000 it had ten councillors in Legco. The most recent Legislative Council election in 2004, it become the largest (by number) political party to be represented with 12 seats, with the Liberal Party coming second (10 seats), with the Democratic Party coming third (9 seats).
Twelve district councilors joined the party on its formation, a share that increased to 37 seats in the 1994 elections and 83 in 1999. In the wake of the controversies over the legislation of Article 23
Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23
Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 is the basis of a security law proposed by the Government of Hong Kong. It states:On 24 September 2002 the government released its proposals for the anti-subversion law. It is the cause of considerable controversy and division in Hong Kong, which operates as a...
of the Basic Law in 2003, the party's popularity dropped drastically and the November 2003 District Councils elections saw its seats drop to 62. The election results have led to the resignation of its former Chairman, Jasper Tsang Yok-sing. However, as Ma Lik had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer from 2004 until his death in 2007, Tsang still effectively controls the DAB.
The DAB and its sister organisation HKFTU
Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions is a pro-Beijing labour and political group in Hong Kong. It is the largest labour group in Hong Kong with over 341,000 members in 181 affiliates and 62 associated trade unions.-Policies:...
are well-known for their ability to mobilize their supporters, including employees of PRC state-owned companies, to vote for their candidates in elections. In the 2004 Legislative Council election, they managed to exploit the proportional representation electoral system to equalise votes for two of the candidates the party endorsed standing in the same constituency. Although support of Chan Yuen Han
Chan Yuen Han
Chan Yuen-han, SBS, JP, nicknamed Sister Han , is a noted Hong Kong female trade unionist...
(DAB) was far higher than Chan Kam Lam (HKFTU), according to earlier polls, the two organisations managed to have both elected. At another constituency, the ticket of Ma Lik
Ma Lik
Ma Lik, GBS, JP , was a Legislative Councillor, and was the Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong , a pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong.-Education:...
and Choy So Yuk
Choy So Yuk
Choy So-yuk, JP was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.She is an elected member of Eastern District Council. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Master of Philosophy in Chemistry, both from the University of Hong Kong...
ultimately benefitted from a democratic camp mix-up that led to the resignation of the Democratic Party's leader, Yeung Sum
Yeung Sum
Yeung Sum SBS JP is the second Chairman of the Democratic Party , a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. He is a lecturer in the University of Hong Kong. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.-Biography:...
.
| Election | Number of votes for DAB | Share of votes | Geographical constituency seats | Functional constituency seats | Elections committee seats | Total seats |
| 1995 | 141,801 | 15.40% | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 1998 Hong Kong legislative election, 1998 The 1998 Hong Kong legislative election for members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong was held on 24 May 1998. The elections returned 20 members from directly elected geographical constituencies and 30 members from functional constituencies, of which 10 were uncontested.-Geographical... |
373,428 | 25.23% | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 2000 Hong Kong legislative election, 2000 The 2000 Hong Kong legislative election for members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong was held on 10 September 2000. The elections returned 24 members from directly elected geographical constituencies and 30 members from functional constituencies,of which 9 uncontested.-General... |
347,354 | 26.32% | 7 | 3 | 1 | 11 |
| 2004 Hong Kong legislative election, 2004 The 2004 Hong Kong legislative election for members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong was held on 12 September 2004. The elections returned 30 members from directly elected geographical constituencies and 30 members from functional constituencies, of which 11 were unopposed.-General... |
402,420 | 22.55% | 8 | 2 | − | 10 |
| 2008 Hong Kong legislative election, 2008 The 2008 Hong Kong legislative election was held on 7 September 2008 for the 4th Legislative Council since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. There are 60 seats in the 4th Council, with 30 Members elected by geographical constituencies through direct elections, and... |
347,373 | 22.79% | 7 | 3 | − | 10 |
Hong Kong 1967 Leftist Riots
Notable DAB member Tsang Tak-singTsang Tak-sing
Tsang Tak Sing, JP is the Secretary for Home Affairs of Hong Kong. Formerly an adviser to the Central Policy Unit, he assumed office on 1 July 2007, replacing Patrick Ho. He is the younger brother of Jasper Tsang, who was the legislative councillor and former chairman of the Democratic Alliance...
participated in the Hong Kong 1967 Leftist Riots. He was arrested and jailed for two years for distributing "inflammatory leaflets"
Tiananmen denial
On 15 May 2007, party leader Ma LikMa Lik
Ma Lik, GBS, JP , was a Legislative Councillor, and was the Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong , a pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong.-Education:...
provoked widespread condemnation within the local community when he claimed that "there was not a massacre" during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
, as there was "no intentional and indiscriminate shooting". He said the popular belief of foreigners' "rash claims" that a massacre took place showed Hong Kong's lack of maturity. He said that Hong Kong showed, through this lack of patriotism and national identity, that it would thus "not be ready for democracy until 2022".
Vice Chairman Tam Yiu Chung
Tam Yiu Chung
Tam Yiu-chung, GBS, JP, is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, representing the New Territories West constituency. He was a member of the Executive Council from 1997 to 2002...
defended Ma, but questioned the timing: "people will understand it gradually". However, Vice Chairman Lau Kong Wah, immediately offered to apologise, and distanced the party from Ma, saying that Ma had expressed "a personal opinion". The DAB Central committee declined any further action against Ma following their meeting, and there was no official apology.
Financial irregularities
The DAB has been accused by pro-democracy media and politicians of providing benefits to certain people, including seafood meals and local trips to outlying islands at prices significantly lower than market rates in order to win their support. Other allegations include free transport to mobilise people for their cause. However, none of these practices are strictly illegal.Factions
As the largest political party of Hong Kong, the 10-year-party can be divided into three main factions:- Unionists, i.e. members belonging or came from the Federation of Trade Unions.
- Indigenous residents in the New Territories
- Fujianese
List of chairmen
- Jasper Tsang (10 July 1992 – 9 December 2003)
- Ma LikMa LikMa Lik, GBS, JP , was a Legislative Councillor, and was the Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong , a pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong.-Education:...
(9 December 2003 – 8 August 2007) - Tam Yiu-chung (8 August 2007 –)