Condemn Hong Kong Legislative Council Election Masquerade

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On December 7, Hong Kong held an election for its legislative council (LEGCO). Since only pro-China candidates were allowed to compete, they won all 90 seats.

This was the second LEGCO election held since the electoral system was revised to bar candidates from the pro-democracy camp. One candidate was elected from the moderate faction during the last election in 2021. This time, however, it was forced to abandon fielding a candidate. As a result, for the first time since Hong Kong reverted to China in 1997, LEGCO is totally controlled by pro-Beijing legislators.

Elections are meant to be a mechanism for voters to freely choose the person or persons they think would be best from a list of candidates with diverse political views. In that sense, Hong Kong's Legislative Council election has become a masquerade, not a true election.

Demise of 'One Country, Two Systems'

When Hong Kong was handed back to China by the United Kingdom in 1997, Beijing promised to maintain a "one country, two systems" governing system for 50 years. However, the Chinese government reneged on this solemn promise. Contravening the agreement, it forced through the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law in June 2020.

*Hong Kong Chief Executive John Ka-chao Lee holds a press conference in front of a black screen on December 2. (©Kyodo)*

The LEGCO "election" is a contradiction in terms and cannot be described as democratic. It raises concern that this travesty of a democratic institution will result in an acceleration of Hong Kong governance to prioritize the wishes of Xi Jinping, president of the People's Republic of China. What is left is a pro-China Hong Kong government and legislature whose sole loyalty is to the Chinese Communist Party.

Turnout for the direct elections open to the general public was 31.9%, slightly higher than the previous election's record low of 30.2%. The Chinese government has ballyhooed this fact. However, the turnout was far lower than the 58.3% in 2016, when pro-democracy activists also participated.

Lax Oversight, Deadly Fire

The election was preceded by a massive fire that left more than 160 people dead or missing. It had broken out in a high-rise apartment cluster in northern Hong Kong just 11 days before the vote.

Calls for the Hong Kong government to take responsibility for its lack of oversight immediately followed. To divert attention, Chief Executive John Lee insisted on increasing voter turnout. Leading up to the election, Hong Kong police then arrested a former district council member and others for allegedly plotting to use the fire to incite violence. A male student who demanded an investigation into the cause of the fire was also arrested.

Nevertheless, the fire has made one thing clear. In the name of "national security," the Hong Kong authorities have been neglecting citizen safety.

*A massive fire broke out, engulfing a high-rise apartment complex in northern Hong Kong on November 26. (©Kyodo)*

Pressured to Vote

In an attempt to coax Hong Kong voters to go to the polls Lee proclaimed, "We need to vote to protect the victims." Such a statement that even exploits the victims of the disaster for political purposes is questionable to say the least.

The Hong Kong government also assigned social workers to assist households affected by the disaster. Some victims have revealed that these "social workers" repeatedly urged them to vote, even though they were there under the pretense of helping them in their hour of need.

Ultimately, the electoral district where the fire occurred ended up having the highest rate of invalid votes, including blank ballots, of all Hong Kong electoral districts.

We cannot help but feel sympathy for the people of Hong Kong who must now live under callous authoritarian rule.

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

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