Status: 19.12.2021 8:47 p.m.
Below 30 percent: In the election for the Hong Kong city parliament, the turnout is low. Since the crackdown on the protests in the city, many people have given up hope of democratic change.
For the first time since the crackdown on the democracy movement, Hong Kong has elected a new parliament. Shortly before the polls closed, the turnout was less than 30 percent, as the election commission announced. In the election five years ago, the turnout was 58.3 percent. The official final result is expected on Monday.
In many cases it had already been expected that many people would stay away from the election because they had given up all hope of democratic changes in the British ex-colony after Beijing’s crackdown.
Many arrests as a result of the “Security Act”
One and a half years ago, a controversial so-called security law was passed in Hong Kong under pressure from Beijing. It led to the mass protests for more democracy suddenly coming to an end. Many civil rights activists, protest leaders and politicians ended up in jail. Others went abroad to avoid persecution.
The Legislative Council, as the Hong Kong parliament is called, was not freely elected in the past either. But in the current election there were restrictions like never before: According to the new rules, for the first time only “patriots” were allowed to compete. The parliament will be enlarged from 70 to 90 seats – but only 20 instead of the previous 35 members will be directly elected. Most seats are pre-reserved for representatives of Beijing-friendly interest groups.
Unsuccessful government advertising
The government had advertised active participation, including free trips to the polling station. Prime Minister Carrie Lam said, however, that she has no special expectations when it comes to the rush to the polls. “The government has not set a target for voter turnout,” she said at a polling station.
After the polling stations closed, she said the “improved” voting system had worked. The election was open, free and ran smoothly. Constitutional Secretary Erick Tsang warned foreign forces could try to undermine the election. The new electoral law provides for calls to boycott elections and the casting of invalid votes up to three years in prison and a fine of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars (around 22,800 euros).