He may not be one of the most famous Democrats in town, but Kam Nai-wai could become one this fall when he runs to replace the retiring Martin Lee’s seat. A veteran fighter for democracy, he talks to June Ng about filling the big shoes, and his lifelong love for the Central & Western district.

I’ve been a “suspected” candidate many times before, but most people only learned about me last year when I backed down to make way for Mrs. Anson Chan.

No one asked me to quit. I decided to withdraw on my own accord. I knew my chance of winning was zero. Mrs. Chan was the best choice at that time.

But now I have more determination and confidence than ever before. For so many years, Martin Lee and Yeung Sum were always on the top of the candidates list. This year, I will come first.

I was born in 1960. I’m 48 years old now. I was a founding member of the Democratic Party when it was established in 1994. 14 years I’ve been with them.

Do I blame the party for taking so long to give me a chance? Well, I blame the system. This is the proportional representative system; it discourages people from getting involved in politics.

Everybody has a certain role. It’s like running a company. You can’t make everyone a boss. You need a cleaning lady. 

It’s the same in fighting for democracy. My role was a foot soldier, and I was happy with it. The general wants to quit now, and I think I’m well-equipped to take up the job. I’ve been in many hard battles before.

Of course it’s stressful. Anybody would feel the same if they were thrust into the spotlight to play a major role when they’re a relative unknown.

Dealing with the stress is a learning process. There is positive stress and negative stress. It depends on how you spin it and use it as your motivation.

Even if I have the heart, the money is always a big problem.

For the upcoming Legco election this September, I’ll need $2 million in the election fund. The party will only offer me $400,000. I have to sell my flat for the rest.  

Money is the reason I thought about leaving the party. When the government killed the Urban Council in 1999, I lost half of my income.

It’s hard for me to find other jobs. I always have to tell my boss, “either you fire me, or you give me more time to run campaigns.” If I had just done some social work for NGOs, my life would have been much easier.

But I still stick with the party. Though times have changed and the glory days of the Democratic Party may be gone, our beliefs are still the same.

Hong Kong people should run Hong Kong. We’re fully capable to do that. We don’t need to rely on any outside power, either from overseas or from mainland China.

If everybody flees when they face adversity, nothing will ever come true. 

I was born at the wrong time. For my age, even if I was elected, I’d be able to serve for one, or a maximum for two terms. I’m just filling the gap between the past and the future generation of political talent.

Elections are more about feelings. If the voters feel right about you, you’ll win. But you need charisma to do that. Martin Lee has it. I don’t.  

But anyway, it’s the process that matters, not the result. I teach my daughter the same lesson. 

I’ve been living in Central & Western district since the day I was born. I’ve moved several times but it was always within this district. I love the sophistication here, and I care deeply about heritage conservation. 

If I can, I will live in the Central & Western district forever.