# Kowloon East (1998 constituency)

The Kowloon East geographical constituency was one of the five geographical constituencies in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1998 to 2021. It was established in 1998 for the first SAR Legislative Council election and was abolished under the 2021 overhaul of the Hong Kong electoral system. In the 2016 Legislative Council election, it elected five members of the Legislative Council using the Hare quota of party-list proportional representation. The constituency corresponded to the today's districts of Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong.

## History

The single-constituency single-vote system was replaced by the proportional representation system for the first SAR Legislative Council election designed by Beijing to reward the weaker pro-Beijing candidates and dilute the electoral strength of the majority pro-democrats. Three seats were allocated to Kowloon East, with the Democratic Party taking two seats, represented by Szeto Wah and Fred Li and the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) taking one seat, represented by Chan Yuen-han.
In the 2000 Legislative Council election, one more seat were allocated to Kowloon East. The DAB ticket was able to win two seats with Chan Yuen-han's popularity carried Chan Kam-lam through, with the popular votes even exceeding the Democratic ticket. One more seat was added in the 2004 election, where former pro-democracy radio host Albert Cheng swept the votes with nearly a quarter of the vote share, while pro-democracy barrister Alan Leong also won a seat, replacing Szeto Wah who was retiring.
The constituency was reduced to four seats due to the reapportionment in the 2008 Legislative Council election. With Albert Cheng stepping down from the office, the seats were divided by Chan Kam-lam of the DAB , Wong Kwok-kin of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) who was succeeding Chan Yuen-han, Fredi Li of the Democratic Party and Alan Leong of the Civic Party. Leong resigned from the legislature to launch the "Five Constituencies Referendum" in 2010 to pressure the government over the 2012 constitutional reform proposal, but was re-elected with a low turnout due to the government and pro-Beijing boycott.
Kowloon East was given back five seats in the 2012 Legislative Council election, with an extra seat being fought for between pro-Beijing independent Paul Tse and two radical democrats, Andrew To of the League of Social Democrats (LSD) and Wong Yeung-tat of the People Power. Tse eventually took the last seat with a thin margin due to the pro-democracy infighting, making the pro-Beijing camp winning the majority of the seats for the first time. The balance of power remained unchanged in the 2016 election, with Wu Chi-wai taking the torch from Fred Li one term earlier, and Wilson Or and Jeremy Tam succeeding Chan Kam-lam and Alan Leong respectively.

## Returned members

The following lists the members since the creation of the Kowloon East constituency. The number of seats allocated to Kowloon East varied between three and five between 1998 and 2016 due to reapportionment.
LegCo members for Kowloon East, 1998–2021 :
| Term | Election | Member | Member | Member | Member | Member | Member | Member | Member |
| 1st | 1998 | | Szeto Wah (DP) | Chan Yuen-han (DAB→FTU) | | Fred Li (DP) | | | |
| 2nd | 2000 | | Szeto Wah (DP) | Chan Yuen-han (DAB→FTU) | | Fred Li (DP) | Chan Kam-lam (DAB) | | |
| 3rd | 2004 | | Albert Cheng (Ind) | Chan Yuen-han (DAB→FTU) | | Fred Li (DP) | Chan Kam-lam (DAB) | | Alan Leong (A45→CP) |
| 4th | 2008 | Seat abolished | Seat abolished | Wong Kwok-kin (FTU) | | Fred Li (DP) | Chan Kam-lam (DAB) | | Alan Leong (A45→CP) |
| Vacant ||
| 4th | 2010 (b) | Seat abolished | Seat abolished | Wong Kwok-kin (FTU) | | Fred Li (DP) | Chan Kam-lam (DAB) | | Alan Leong (A45→CP) |
| 5th | 2012 | | Paul Tse (Ind) | Wong Kwok-kin (FTU) | | Wu Chi-wai (DP) | Chan Kam-lam (DAB) | | Alan Leong (A45→CP) |
| 6th | 2016 | | Paul Tse (Ind) | Wong Kwok-kin (FTU) | | Wu Chi-wai (DP) | Wilson Or (DAB) | | Jeremy Tam (CP) |
| 6th | 2016 | | Paul Tse (Ind) | Wong Kwok-kin (FTU) | Vacant | Vacant | Wilson Or (DAB) | Vacant | Vacant |

### Summary of seats won

| Term | Election | Distribution |
| 1st | 1998 | 2 1 |
| 2nd | 2000 | 2 2 |
| 3rd | 2004 | 3 2 |
| 4th | 2008 | 2 2 |
| 5th | 2012 | 2 3 |
| 6th | 2016 | 2 3 |
| | | 1998 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 |
| | Democratic | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| | DAB | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| | FTU | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| | Civic | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| | Independent | | | 2 | | 1 | 1 |
| Pro-democracy | Pro-democracy | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Pro-Beijing | Pro-Beijing | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Seats | Seats | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |

### Vote share summary

| | | 1998 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 |
| | Democratic | 55.8 | 45.3 | 19.2 | 27.3 | 15.4 | 15.3 |
| | DAB | 41.8 | 47.4 | 18.8 | 22.6 | 16.7 | 15.7 |
| | FTU | | | 17.9 | 21.3 | 14.3 | 14.4 |
| | Civic | | | | 16.6 | 14.6 | 13.8 |
| | LSD | | | | 12.1 | 9.6 | |
| | People Power | | | | | 12.9 | 9.7 |
| | Civic Passion | | | | | | 10.1 |
| | KEC | | | | | | 3.9 |
| | Independent and Others | 2.4 | 7.4 | 44.1 | | 16.6 | 17.2 |
| Pro-democracy | Pro-democracy | 55.8 | 45.3 | 63.3 | 56.0 | 55.5 | 54.8 |
| Pro-Beijing | Pro-Beijing | 41.8 | 47.4 | 36.7 | 43.9 | 44.5 | 45.2 |

## Election results

The largest remainder method (with Hare quota) of the proportional representative electoral system was introduced in 1998, replacing the single-member constituencies of the 1995 election. Elected candidates are shown in bold. Brackets indicate the quota + remainder.

### 2010s

| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Vote share
2016 Legislative Council election: Kowloon East :
| List | List | Candidates | Votes | Of total (%) | ± from prev. |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 65,799 | 20.00 | |
| | DAB | Wilson Or Chong-shing Joe Lai Wing-ho, Jack Cheung Ki-tang | 51,516 | 15.66 | –0.99 |
| | Democratic | Wu Chi-wai Mok Kin-shing, Cheng Keng-ieong, Wu Chi-kin | 50,309 | 15.29 | –0.08 |
| | Nonpartisan | Paul Tse Wai-chun | 47,527 | 14.45 | +0.91 |
| | FTU | Wong Kwok-kin Chow Luen-kiu, Kan Ming-tung, Kwok Wang-hing | 47,318 | 14.38 | +0.04 |
| | Civic | Jeremy Jansen Tam Man-ho Alan Leong Kah-kit | 45,408 | 13.80 | –0.83 |
| | Civic Passion | Wong Yeung-tat | 33,271 | 10.11 | N/A |
| | People Power | Tam Tak-chi | 31,815 | 9.67 | –3.18 |
| | KEC | Chan Chak-to | 12,854 | 3.91 | N/A |
| | Frontier | Tam Heung-man | 2,603 | 0.79 | –1.17 |
| | Labour | Wu Sui-shan, Chiu Shi-shun | 2,535 | 0.77 | N/A |
| | VLHK | Patrick Ko Tat-pun | 2,444 | 0.74 | N/A |
| | Nonpartisan | Lui Wing-kei | 1,393 | 0.42 | N/A |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 328,993 | 100.00 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7,754 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 336,738 | 55.98 | +4.01 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 601,566 | | |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Vote share
2012 Legislative Council election: Kowloon East :
| List | List | Candidates | Votes | Of total (%) | ± from prev. |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 56,957 | 20.00 | |
| | DAB | Chan Kam-lam Joe Lai Wing-ho, Hung Kam-in, Wilson Or Chong-shing | 47,415 | 16.65 | −5.95 |
| | Democratic | Wu Chi-wai Mok Kin-shing, Hon Ka-ming | 43,764 | 15.37 | −5.03 |
| | Civic | Alan Leong Kah-kit Jeremy Jansen Tam Man-ho | 41,669 | 14.63 | −1.97 |
| | FTU | Wong Kwok-kin Kan Ming-tung, Mok Kin-wing, Ho Kai-ming | 40,824 | 14.34 | −6.96 |
| | Independent | Paul Tse Wai-chun | 38,546 | 13.54 | N/A |
| | People Power | Wong Yeung-tat, Chan Sau-wai | 36,608 | 12.85 | N/A |
| | LSD | Andrew To Kwan-hang | 27,253 | 9.57 | −2.68 |
| | Independent | Tam Heung-man | 5,440 | 1.91 | N/A |
| | Nonpartisan | Kay Yim Fung-chi, Chan Heung-yin | 3,263 | 1.15 | N/A |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 284,782 | 100.00 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5,979 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 290,761 | 51.97 | +9.12 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 559,528 | | |
2010 Kowloon East by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Civic | Alan Leong Kah-kit | 82,066 | 92.53 |
| | Tertiary 2012 | Lai King-fai | 6,630 | 7.47 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75,436 | 85.05 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 88,696 | 100.00 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 2,530 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 91,226 | 16.79 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 543,253 | |
| | Civic hold | Civic hold | Swing | |

### 2000s

| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Vote share
2008 Legislative Council election: Kowloon East :
| List | List | Candidates | Votes | Of total (%) | ± from prev. |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 59,061 | 25.00 | |
| | DAB | Chan Kam-lam Joe Lai Wing-ho, Maggie Chan Man-ki, Hung Kam-in | 53,472 | 22.63 | +3.82 |
| | FTU | Wong Kwok-kin Chan Yuen-han, Peter Wong Kit-hin, Kan Ming-tung | 50,320 | 21.30 | +3.42 |
| | Democratic | Fred Li Wah-ming Kai Ming-wah, Wong Kai-ming, Wong Wai-tag | 48,124 | 20.37 | +1.16 |
| | Civic | Alan Leong Kah-kit Yu Kwun-wai, Wong Hok-ming | 39,274 | 16.62 | −2.49 |
| | LSD | Andrew To Kwan-hang | 28,690 | 12.14 | −12.79 |
| | Democratic | Wu Chi-wai | 16,365 | 6.93 | N/A |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 236,245 | 100.00 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1,691 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 237,936 | 44.01 | −12.45 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 540,649 | | |
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Vote share
2004 Legislative Council election: Kowloon East :
| List | List | Candidates | Votes | Of total (%) | ± from prev. |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 58,797 | 20.00 | |
| | Nonpartisan (Frontier) | Albert Cheng Jing-han Andrew To Kwan-hang | 73,279 | 24.93 (20.00+4.93) | N/A |
| | Democratic | Fred Li Wah-ming Wu Chi-wai, Ho Wai-to | 56,462 | 19.21 | −26.09 |
| | Independent | Alan Leong Kah-kit | 56,175 | 19.11 | N/A |
| | DAB (FTU) | Chan Kam-lam Choi Chun-wa, Chan Tak-ming | 55,306 | 18.81 | N/A |
| | FTU (DAB) | Chan Yuen-han Lam Man-fai, Tang Ka-piu | 52,564 | 17.88 | N/A |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 293,986 | 100.00 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 2,384 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 296,370 | 56.46 | +11.74 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 524,896 | | |
| 2 | 2 |
Vote share
2000 Legislative Council election: Kowloon East :
| List | List | Candidates | Votes | Of total (%) | ± from prev. |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 57,320 | 25.00 | |
| | DAB | Chan Yuen-han, Chan Kam-lam Lam Man-fai, Angelis Chan Joy-kong | 108,587 | 47.36 (25+22.36) | +5.62 |
| | Democratic | Szeto Wah, Fred Li Wah-ming Wu Chi-wai, Andrew To Kwan-hang | 103,863 | 45.30 (25+20.30) | −10.50 |
| | Nonpartisan | Lam Hoi-shing | 9,805 | 4.28 | N/A |
| | Nonpartisan | Shi Kai-biu, Lam Wai-yin | 7,023 | 3.06 | N/A |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 229,278 | 100.00 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 2,384 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 296,370 | 44.72 | –9.69 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 518,035 | | |

### 1990s

| 2 | 1 |
Vote share
1998 Legislative Council election: Kowloon East :
| List | List | Candidates | Votes | Of total (%) |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 87,207 | 33.33 |
| | Democratic | Szeto Wah, Fred Li Wah-ming Mak Hoi-wah | 145,986 | 55.80 (33.33+22.47) |
| | DAB | Chan Yuen-han Kwok Bit-chun, Lam Man-fai | 109,296 | 41.78 (33.33+8.45) |
| | Nonpartisan | Fok Pui-yee | 6,339 | 2.42 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 261,621 | 100.00 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1,679 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 263,300 | 54.41 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 483,875 | |