Jacky Fung Sparks Controversy by Naming Pro-Establishment Candidates

On December 6–7, 2025, well-known overseas Hong Kong commentator Jacky Fung publicly endorsed pro-establishment candidates ahead of the Hong Kong Legislative Council elections, including Yeung Che-yan of the Liberal Party, Gan Man-fung of the New People’s Party, and the highly controversial Chau Ho-ting of the DAB.

Fung claimed that his endorsements were based solely on “personal relationships” and not political maneuvering. On social media, he clashed with scholar Professor Chan Kin-man, who stated, “Jacky Fung is sharp, especially when criticizing elections that are manipulated, yet afterward he calls on people to vote for these ‘elite’ candidates”. Fung dismissed this remark as a shield for what he called the “hijacking of the youth movement”.

The incident triggered widespread discussion and backlash among Hongkongers. Since the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020, political positions and statements online have become highly sensitive. Any recommendation, political commentary, or opinion can be amplified as an indication of “political leaning” or “media influence”. Fung appears in the capacity of a commentator/intellectual and is not a public officeholder or candidate. Scholars and netizens criticized his position as contradictory or inappropriate. His affiliated online platform, Glocal World, stated that these were “the host’s personal choices and opinions,” emphasizing that the platform’s stance would not be associated with Fung, and that they would follow up on the matter.