Hong Kong by-elections to highlight any desire for greater democracy

Hong Kong yesterday voted in by-elections that will offer insights into whether the semi-autonomous Chinese city wants greater democracy.

The vote pits pro-Beijing loyalists against opposition candidates competing for four seats in the city’s semi-democratic legislature.

They are among six seats left vacant when a group of politicians were expelled after a 2016 controversy over their oaths, which they used to defy China.

They included two advocating Hong Kong’s independence, which Chinese President Xi Jinping has called a red line.

In the vote’s main contest, little-known activist Au Nokhin, a neighbourhood councillor, was running against the pro-Beijing Judy Chan.

Mr Au was enlisted at the last moment after officials disqualified the pro-democracy camp’s marquee candidate Agnes Chow, 21, because she advocated for citizens to determine their own future.

“This election is a very important choice for Hong Kong people over whether they want rule of law or rule by the Communist Party,” Ms Chow said.

She said Hong Kong’s younger generation hoped for democratic development. But that looks increasingly distant after China’s National People’s Congress voted yesterday to abolish presidential term limits, allowing Mr Xi to stay in power indefinitely.

Ms Chow intended to stand for the seat vacated by the disqualification of Nathan Law, a fellow member of their Demosisto party who became Hong Kong’s youngest legislator.

The two are among a wave of young activists who emerged from the huge but inconclusive 2014 “Umbrella Movement” demonstrations against Beijing’s plans to restrict elections for Hong Kong’s top leader.

Under the “one country, two systems” framework, Beijing promised to let Hong Kong keep wide autonomy and civil liberties after its 1997 handover from Britain. Fears are rising that China’s leaders are backtracking.

A small group of pro-democracy supporters protested yesterday outside the polling station where the city’s top leader, Carrie Lam, cast her ballot. And some pro-Beijing supporters heckled noted democracy activist Joshua Wong outside a campaign stop.

But voting otherwise went undisturbed for the election, which has attracted little attention — no opinion polls were conducted and there was no televised debate by the city’s largest broadcaster.

The vote pits pro-Beijing loyalists against opposition candidates competing for four seats