Hong Kong votes for legislature with only loyalists approved
The Hindu
To encourage the vote, authorities offered free public transport in an unprecedented move, and sent out reminder messages a day before the polls
is voting on December 19 in the first election since Beijing amended the laws to reduce the number of directly elected lawmakers and vet candidates to ensure that only those loyal to China can run.
The semi-autonomous territory was rocked by in 2014 and 2019, but they were crushed by security forces, followed by the imposition of a sweeping national security law that silenced most of the city's opposition activists and led others to flee abroad.
Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Minister Erick Tsang warned on December 18 that foreign forces may be attempting to undermine the elections after overseas activists urged a boycott of the vote. Under the new election laws, incitement to boycott and casting invalid votes can lead up to three years in jail and a 200,000 Hong Kong dollar ($26,500) fine.
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