Hong Kong 'patriots only' election falls flat with record low turnout
The sharp slide in turnout since the last such election in 2019 comes after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law that has been used to clamp down on dissent, and overhauled the electoral system to shut out democrats and other liberals.
“It can be seen that everyone has begun to feel that the election has no meaning,” said Lemon Wong, one of the few remaining democrats still involved in local politics.
“Even pro-establishment supporters are asking themselves why they need to vote because it’s all the same.”
The previous lowest turnout was 35.8% in 1999. Four years ago at the last such election during Hong Kong’s mass pro-democracy protests, a record 71% turnout brought about a landslide victory for the democratic camp in a fiercely contested poll.
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