Voter turnout plunges under 30% in Hong Kong election after guidelines shut out pro-democracy candidates
HONG KONG — Voter turnout plunged under 30% in Hong Kong’s first district council elections since new guidelines launched below Beijing’s steering successfully shut out all pro-democracy candidates, setting a file low because the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
According to official knowledge on Monday, 27.5% of the town’s 4.3 million registered voters forged ballots in Sunday’s polls – considerably lower than the file 71.2% who participated within the final elections held on the peak of anti-government protests in 2019. The pro-democracy camp gained these polls in a landslide victory, in a transparent rebuke of the federal government’s dealing with of the protests.
Beijing loyalists are anticipated to take management of the district councils after Sunday’s elections, with outcomes exhibiting massive pro-government events successful most immediately elected seats.
“The newly elected district councilors come from diverse backgrounds,” Hong Kong chief John Lee mentioned. “They will make the work in the districts more multidimensional … better aligning with the interests of the citizens.”
The district councils, which primarily deal with municipal issues akin to organizing development tasks and public amenities, had been Hong Kong’s final main political our bodies principally chosen by the general public.
But below new electoral guidelines launched below a Beijing order that solely “patriots” ought to administer the town, candidates should safe endorsements from not less than 9 members of government-appointed committees which can be principally filled with Beijing loyalists, making it nearly inconceivable for any pro-democracy candidates to run.
An modification handed in July additionally slashed the proportion of immediately elected seats from about 90% to about 20%.
Many outstanding pro-democracy activists have additionally been arrested or have fled the territory after Beijing imposed a harsh nationwide safety regulation in response to the 2019 protests.
Critics say the low voter turnout displays the general public sentiment towards the “patriots” solely system and the federal government’s crackdown on dissent.
The earlier file low for participation within the council elections because the handover to Chinese rule was 35.8% in 1999.
The electoral adjustments additional narrowed political freedoms within the metropolis, following a separate overhaul for the legislature in 2021. Following these adjustments, turnout within the final legislative election two years in the past plunged to 30% from 58% in 2016.
Lee on Sunday mentioned the council elections had been the “last piece of the puzzle” in implementing the precept of “patriots” administering the town.
Government officers have downplayed turnout as a measure of the overhaul’s success, however stepped up efforts to advertise the polls. Lee’s administration held carnivals, an out of doors live performance and supplied free admission to some museums to encourage voting.
Kenneth Chan, professor at Hong Kong Baptist University’s authorities and worldwide research division, mentioned the low turnout was not the results of political apathy or a coordinated boycott, however fairly “a widespread political disengagement by design” below the revised guidelines, with most individuals understanding that they had been “disinvited.”
“The record low turnout must be hugely humiliating for the government and its allies given the unprecedented propaganda campaigns and ubiquitous mobilization,” he mentioned.
Sunday’s elections had been prolonged by 1 1/2 hours due to the failure of the digital voter registration system. Multiple politicians mentioned the glitch would have an effect on their probabilities of successful as a result of some residents gave up voting earlier than authorities carried out a contingency plan.
David Lok, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, refused to touch upon the turnout and mentioned it was unclear whether or not some voters had been unable to forged ballots as a result of system failure.
“I can’t rule out this possibility,” he mentioned. “If they can’t vote due to our errors, I feel remorseful.”
