Hong Kong: In the election for the Hong Kong legislature, pro-China candidates have won a landslide victory. He defeated centrist and independent candidates in the first election after Beijing’s change in the Autonomous Region’s election law. China had passed legislation to ensure that only people loyal to Beijing take over the administration of the city. After this, in the first election held on Sunday, Beijing’s trusted candidates have won most of the seats.
Hong Kong’s leader and pro-China Carrie Lam said in a press conference on Monday that she was satisfied despite the 30.2 percent voter turnout. In 1997, Britain handed over Hong Kong to China and since then this is the lowest voting percentage. Carrie Lam said the number of voters who registered was 92.5 percent, which is higher than the 2012 and 2016 elections when only 70 percent of voters were registered.
The opposition criticized the election
Under the new law, the number of directly elected members of the legislature has been reduced from 35 to 20, while the total number of members has been increased and there is now a 90-member council instead of 70. Most of these members are appointed by pro-China bodies, and it is ensured that they have a majority in the legislature. However, the opposition camp has criticized the election. The Democratic Party, the largest pro-democracy party, did not field a single candidate for the first time since 1997.
What did China say about the elections?
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that there were many reasons for the low voting percentage. Zhao said during the press conference, ‘The reason for this is not only the epidemic, but the obstruction created by anti-China forces in Hong Kong and external powers are also responsible.’
These countries expressed concern about the electoral system
Meanwhile, in a joint statement issued by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the foreign ministers of Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the US expressed serious concern over the erosion of the democratic elements of Hong Kong’s electoral system and increasing restrictions on freedom of expression. expressed. Protecting space for peaceful alternative ideas is the most effective way to ensure Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity, he said.
