Hong Kong authorities encourage voting as turnout nears 2021 low

MADRID, December 7 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has already voted on Sunday for the territory’s legislative elections, marked by absolute control by China that led to voter apathy and the catastrophic November 26 fire in the Wang Fuk residential complex.

Lee encouraged the vote precisely by resorting to the case of the fire. “We must all vote today, because this vote represents reform and represents our unity towards progress,” he commented to local media before declaring his intention to “work alongside” the population to “strengthen the security of this city”.

The head of the executive welcomed a particular measure adopted during these elections, namely the extension of voting hours. Hong Kongers will now have until 11:30 p.m. to vote. (local time) to vote, two hours longer than in the 2021 elections.

However, participation is now at the level of four years ago. The 2021 elections were the first time all candidates aligned with Beijing’s policies and the result was a 30-point drop from previous elections.

The elections four years ago ended with a turnout of 30.2 percent and this time, until 7:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands), the official website of the Legislative Council reflects a turnout of 27.4 percent.

The system once again relies on the idea that “only patriots” can run for office, as happened in the 2023 local elections with the support of the Chinese Communist Party. Thus, Beijing seeks to strengthen its control over the former British colony despite criticism from critical voices and the international community, who see it as a violation of fundamental rights and freedoms.

The Hong Kong authorities have extended this modest atmosphere to the media to the point that last Saturday, as reported by the Bloomberg agency, international agencies and newspapers with correspondents in the territory were summoned to a meeting during which they were warned not to broadcast “false information or smear campaigns” either on the fire or on the elections.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security, an organization born in 2020 at the dawn of the draconian Homeland Security Law drafted by China and denounced by dissidents as a tool to crush any hint of opposition, denounced that foreign media have “incited social division and confrontation”.

An official at the meeting, including Bloomberg journalists, used a Chinese expression equivalent to “so don’t say we didn’t warn you.”