Pro-Beijing DAB New Territories East by-election candidate Holden Chow Ho-ding shed tears during a live TVB debate on Thursday.

“The tears I’m shedding are for Hong Kong people,” Chow said. He said that Hongkongers do not like to see conflict and that he hopes to work for the city.

Holden Chow Ho-ding fights back the tears. Photo: TVB screenshot.

Chow became visibly upset during a section of the debate related to the copyright bill filibustering in the legislature. He began speaking of his faith and his hope that everyone would become “brothers and sisters”.

“I have [religious] faith. Even though we are debating here now, I hope that, in seven years, we could be friends,” he added.

However, his tears failed to move other candidates, and some accused him of acting.

Independent hopeful Leung See-ho asked: “If you are crying now, how are you going to hold up when you’re in LegCo?”

Photo: Wikicommons.

The New Territories East by-election will be held on Sunday. The candidates include Lau Chi-Shing, Nelson Wong Sing-chi, Holden Chow Ho-ding, Albert Leung Sze-ho, Christine Fong Kwok-shan, Edward Leung Tin-kei and Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu.

Polls published on Monday predict a close race between the pro-democracy Civic Party and pro-Beijing DAB candidates.