Political Positions and Activity
Fung's work is mainly focused on livelihood issues in the Sham Shui Po District. On political issues he takes a more moderate stance than other democrats. Fung's most controversial move among the democratic camp was his acceptance to join the Provisional Legco, set up by the PRC Government to replace Legco temporarily upon reunification in 1997, after the failure of the Chinese and British sides to agree on a smooth transition of the political system. The democratic camp generally boycotted the provisional body and other appointments by the Chinese side, criticising them as a backwards step for democracy. Nevertheless, Fung accepted a number of appointments from the Chinese government, joined the Preparatory Committee for the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and while he voted against the setting up of the Provisional Legco in 1996 in the Preparatory Committee, he (and other ADPL members) joined the provisional body eventually. His move was regarded as a compromise with the Chinese government and was criticised by other members of the democratic camp.
In June 2010, he was one of the first to promise support for the government’s 2012 constitutional reform package if it included the amendment by the Democratic Party to hold a popular vote for five new District Council functional constituencies. When this proposal was accepted by the Beijing government, he did indeed vote for it.
On 21 February 2011, he was questioned whether he supported Yeung Sum's aspiration that DAB should become the ruling party on Facebook. Fung refused to answer even though he admitted to reporters only 2 days earlier that his party and democratic party are quite in line when it comes to political structure/reform.
On 8 December 2011, he decided to run for the 2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election.
Read more about this topic: Frederick Fung
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