Hong Kongers turned out in historically low numbers to pick lawmakers under China's new 'patriots only' rules that dramatically cut directly elected seats, official results showed Monday, in a stinging rebuke to Beijing.
December 20, 2021, 2:49 AMHong Kongers turned out in historically low numbers to pick lawmakers under China's new "patriots only" rules that dramatically cut directly elected seats, official results showed Monday, in a stinging rebuke to Beijing.
Beijing has responded with a sweeping national security law that criminalises much dissent and political reforms to remove anyone deemed unpatriotic. Kenneth Chan, a political scientist at Hong Kong's Baptist University, described Sunday's turnout as "hugely embarrassing" for the government. Under the new rules, candidates have to be vetted for their patriotism and political loyalty and only 20 of the 90 legislature seats are directly elected.The largest chunk of seats -- 40 -- are picked by a committee of 1,500 staunch Beijing loyalists.
"The tension between the authorities and the people will remain in place for a long time while the legislators won't be mediators because they have to toe Beijing's line," Chung Kim-wah, from the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, told AFP. Ta Kung Pao newspaper, which answers to a Chinese government office that sets Hong Kong policy, described the vote as "the most successful one since handover".
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