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Election in Hong Kong – but only for “patriots”
In the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, an election for the legislative council took place on Sunday, in which only “patriots” are allowed to participate. Opposition parties are not allowed. According to the government, more than ten people had been arrested before the start of the election for allegedly asking to cast blank or invalid ballot papers. It’s illegal in Hong Kong. According to the police, there are around 10,000 emergency services at the polling stations to ensure that votes are cast smoothly. The authorities in Hong Kong had made an effort in advance to ensure a high turnout. They feared that a low turnout could be understood as a protest. A low turnout could delegitimize the election, said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a political science professor at Hong Kong Baptist University. The Chinese parliament announced far-reaching changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system in March, including reducing the number of directly elected seats and establishing an examination board for all candidates. Only “patriots” are allowed to administer the city. In addition, more than a third of the seats are now selected by a committee made up of Beijing loyalists. Abroad, concerns about dwindling rights and freedoms in the city have grown since Beijing passed a far-reaching national security law in response to the mass protests in 2019. It is considered to be the most massive break in the autonomy of the former British crown colony, which it was promised for at least 50 years when it was handed over to China in 1997 on the principle of “one country – two systems”. Western states accuse China of undermining civil rights in Hong Kong and wanting to silence the democracy movement.
Opposition parties are not allowed. According to the police, there are around 10,000 emergency services at the polling stations to ensure that votes are cast smoothly.