Hong Kong turnout low in election of loyalists to China
HONG KONG — About a third of voters in Hong Kong cast their ballots Sunday in the first election since Beijing amended the laws to reduce the number of directly elected lawmakers and vet candidates to ensure that only those loyal to China can run.
The semi-autonomous territory was rocked by pro-democracy protests in 2014 and 2019 that were crushed by the security forces, followed by the imposition of a sweeping national security law that silenced most of the city’s opposition activists and led others to flee abroad.
Low turnout was widely expected, with 1,309,601 registered voters, or 29.28%, casting their ballots by 9:30 p.m., an hour before polls were due to close.
The turnout for this year’s elections was vastly lower than polls in 2012 and 2016, when over 50% of registered voters cast their ballots.
Warton Leung, who did not intend to vote in Sunday’s election, said that the lack of choice in candidates dampened enthusiasm for voting.
“Although there is a chance to vote for pro-establishment and democracy candidates, there are few democratic choices, so Hong Kong people do not feel enthusiastic when it comes to voting,” he said.
Others, such as Yu Wai-kwan, saw the election as a chance to vote for a better Hong Kong.
“I am voting to choose a new bunch of people to make Hong Kong a better place,” Yu said. “I am a patriot, and I just hope for peace and quiet, and to have a good livelihood.”
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam visited a polling station Sunday and said she had “no particular expectation” about the turnout.
Following the close of voting, Lam issued a statement saying the “improved” electoral system had worked as intended.
“The polls today were conducted in an open, fair and honest manner and the overall process was generally smooth,” Lam’s statement said.
Voting results are expected to be finalized Monday, and Lam was expected to travel to Beijing the same day to report on the outcome to central government leaders.
Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Minister Erick Tsang warned that foreign forces may be attempting to undermine the elections after overseas activists urged a boycott of the vote. Under the new election laws, incitement to boycott and casting invalid votes can lead up to three years in jail and a $26,500 fine.
Some 4.4 million residents are eligible to vote. The elections were originally scheduled to take place in September last year, but were postponed with authorities citing public health risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was opposed by the pro-democracy camp, which accused the government of using the outbreak to delay the vote.
Hong Kong’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, fielded no candidates.
Heavy police presence surrounded polling stations Sunday.
Police chief Raymond Siu said about 10,000 officers would be deployed to make sure the election proceeds smoothly.
The rubber-stamp Chinese parliament in March passed a resolution to alter Hong Kong’s election law that many saw as effectively ending the “one country, two systems” framework under which Hong Kong was to retain its separate legal, political and financial institutions for 50 years following the handover from Britain in 1997.
The assembly voted to give a pro-Beijing committee power to appoint more of Hong Kong’s lawmakers, reducing the proportion of those directly elected, and ensure that only those truly loyal to Beijing are allowed to run for office.