The Frontier (Hong Kong)

Infobox Political_party
party_name =The Frontier
前綫
party_logo =
leader1_title =Chairman
leader1_name =Emily Lau Wai-hing
colorcode =#ffd203
foundation =28 August, 1996
headquarters =Rm. 228, Kwong Yau Block, Kwong Fuk Estate, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
national =Hong Kong Pro-democracy camp
colours =Yellow
website =http://www.frontier.org.hk/

The Frontier is a more radical pro-democracy political group in the Hong Kong. It was established on 26 August 1996. The group is headed by convenor Emily Lau Wai-hing since its establishment as a loose group of individual pro-democracy activists.

Party Beliefs

The main platform of The Frontier calls for universal suffrage by 2007/8, more human rights and rule of law, and demands the right to draft Hong Kong's own constitution.

Among the pro-democracy political parties, The Frontier has adopted a relatively radical anti-Beijing and anti-government stance on political issues. It called for immediate universal suffrage since the establishment of the HKSAR, by means of redrafting the Basic Law, the mini-constitution of Hong Kong (the Basic Law guaranteed universal suffrage but imposed constraints on the timetable). It also launched campaigns to demand then Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Tung Chee-hwa, to step down. There were allegations that the party's co-founder, Emily Lau Wai-hing, supported Taiwan independence and was forced to back down from making her stance the official party one. However, she explained that she only respected the will of Taiwanese people.

On the economics front, the group has been pressing for a competitive policy in Hong Kong to curb anti-competitive and monopolistic practices.

On livelihood issues, the group adopted a left-wing, socialist stance. They demand better labour protection, such as legislating for minimum wages and maximum working hours, and advocated unemployment protection. They also demand better social welfare and a reduction of rents in public housing estates.

Founding members

Founders of the group include:
* Emily Lau Wai-hing
* Cyd Ho Sau-lan
* Lee Cheuk-yan
* Leung Yiu-chung
* Lau Chin-shek
* Elizabeth "Libby" Wong

Elections

In both the 1998 and 2000 Legislative Council (LegCo) election, members of The Frontier won five seats in the geographical constituencies (some of them run under the banner of other groups):
* Emily Lau Wai-hing
* Cyd Ho Sau-lan
* Lee Cheuk-yan (also Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU))
* Leung Yiu-chung (also Neighbourhood and Workers Service Centre (NWSC))
* Lau Chin-shek (also HKCTU)

In April 2002, a number of more radical former members ("Young Turks") of the Democratic Party (DP), who had earlier formed a group called the Social Democratic Forum (SDF), left the DP to join the Frontier.

Cyd Ho Sau-lan lost in the 2004 LegCo elections. This was believed to be caused by a tactical mistake by the democratic camp. As a result, they won only one seat in the Legislative Council in 2004, occupied by Emily Lau.

External links

* [http://www.frontier.org.hk/ Web site of The Frontier]
* [http://fungchiwood.com/join-Frontier-cuttings.htm Press cuttings of "Young Turks" joining The Frontier]