Southern Democratic Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Southern Democratic Alliance is a pro-democracy political organization in Hong Kong
. The Alliance was founded on February 1, 2004.
Its stated mission is to unite South Asians with local Chinese to build up a colorful Hong Kong. According to the party's chair, James Lung, local media have termed the Alliance the "Rising Sun of South Asians in the city."
Specifically emphasizing the need for stronger anti-discrimination legislation, the Alliance has focused on the desires of South Asians, specifically the Nepalese population in Hong Kong. One ally of the party has been the Nepalese spiritual group Heavenly Path. The two groups cosponsored a peace rally on July 1, 2007, which organizers claim drew more than 100 attendees.
The party's support for peace and reconciliation, including between mainland China
and Taiwan
, is at odds with official policy. This and other disagreement may have led to the August 4, 2008 closure of e-Wiki, a collaborative wiki
website that hosted articles linking party chairman James Lung to the banned Falun Gong
movement and which described his criticism of China's Communist Party
. More recently, the Alliance has petitioned for the accommodation of English-dominant minority groups in Hong Kong, asking the Subcommittee on Race Discrimination to make English-language job postings available from the labor department.
The Southern Democratic Alliance first fielded candidates in the 2008 Legislative Council elections
, in the Kowloon West district. Its nominees were party chairman James Lung and Heavenly Path spiritual leader Sukra Bantawa, an ethnic Nepali
. In the September 7, 2008 election, the Alliance received only 591 votes, out of 206,583 cast, or 0.3%.
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 Alliance was founded on February 1, 2004.
Its stated mission is to unite South Asians with local Chinese to build up a colorful Hong Kong. According to the party's chair, James Lung, local media have termed the Alliance the "Rising Sun of South Asians in the city."
Specifically emphasizing the need for stronger anti-discrimination legislation, the Alliance has focused on the desires of South Asians, specifically the Nepalese population in Hong Kong. One ally of the party has been the Nepalese spiritual group Heavenly Path. The two groups cosponsored a peace rally on July 1, 2007, which organizers claim drew more than 100 attendees.
The party's support for peace and reconciliation, including between mainland China
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...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, is at odds with official policy. This and other disagreement may have led to the August 4, 2008 closure of e-Wiki, a collaborative wiki
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
website that hosted articles linking party chairman James Lung to the banned Falun Gong
Falun Gong
Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline first introduced in China in 1992 by its founder, Li Hongzhi, through public lectures. It combines the practice of meditation and slow-moving qigong exercises with the moral philosophy...
movement and which described his criticism of China's Communist Party
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...
. More recently, the Alliance has petitioned for the accommodation of English-dominant minority groups in Hong Kong, asking the Subcommittee on Race Discrimination to make English-language job postings available from the labor department.
The Southern Democratic Alliance first fielded candidates in the 2008 Legislative Council elections
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...
, in the Kowloon West district. Its nominees were party chairman James Lung and Heavenly Path spiritual leader Sukra Bantawa, an ethnic Nepali
Nepali people
Nepali people can refer to:*People of Nepal*Ethnic Nepalis of Indian citizenry residing in Gorkhaland area of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and other parts of India.* Indian Gorkhas*Lhotshampas of Bhutan.*Nepali diaspora the world over....
. In the September 7, 2008 election, the Alliance received only 591 votes, out of 206,583 cast, or 0.3%.