Young Hong Kong independence activists calling for a complete break from China stood for the first time yesterday in city-wide legislative elections, the biggest polls since mass pro-democracy protests in 2014. The Electoral Affairs Commission recorded 58 per cent voter participation, a significant increase from 2012’s 53 per cent.
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Beijing has made it clear that independence is out of the question, and Hong Kong’s government took extraordinary measures, which may have backfired, to quell such sentiment before the election. Success in Sunday’s vote could give them a greater platform to challenge China.
The statement reiterated that “Hong Kong independence” is against the Constitution of China, the Basic Law and relevant laws of the Hong Kong SAR, that it was a threat to China’s sovereignty and security, damages the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and is counter to the fundamental interests of Hong Kong citizens. Its other candidate, Baggio Leung, also seemed to be close to victory.
The elections are considered critical because pro-democracy forces are trying to maintain the minimum one-third of seats necessary to block the government from pushing through unpopular legislation, including an electoral overhaul package.
The delay has been attributed to the record-breaking turnout of about 58 percent of Hong Kong’s 3.8 million registered voters, and to the fact that “some people were unable to vote until almost four hours after the polls had officially closed”, the BBC reports. “Ideologically, they’re talking about independence, and they want to assert themselves”, he told reporters.
“People want change, change meaning they want new faces.but the price is a further fragmentation [of the democracy camp]. Young people have a sense of urgency when it comes to the future”, he was quoted saying in an AFP report. The elections have revealed a split in the pro-democracy camp between moderates prepared to work within the current system, and young, often highly educated, radicals. Those fears were exacerbated when five Hong Kong booksellers known for salacious titles about leading Beijing politicians disappeared at the end of previous year, resurfacing in detention on the mainland. They resurfaced in detention on the mainland.
Activists who back separation from China were running in the legislative elections for the first time, despite attempts by Beijing to silence what it considers extremist elements.
“There are a lot more people coming out to vote because they see new choice”, Law said.
“Beijing must be quite alarmed at the success of (pro-independence) candidates”.
However, some localists who were allowed to take part continued to call for independence on the campaign trail. The group’s other candidate, 30-year-old Sixtus Leung, also appeared headed for a win, according to incomplete results for his constituency.
Full results were due out later in the day.
Results so far show they are likely to hold on to that veto power, although some veteran democrat campaigners were voted out to make way for the new generation.
The council, which is elected every four years, will still be dominated by lawmakers allied with Beijing because of an unusual system in which nearly half the seats are allocated to industry and social groups, whose small number of electors are easily swayed by the pro-Beijing establishment.
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Another 30 seats represent trades or particular professions and can only be voted for people joined merely 6% of the inhabitants, to the commerce.
