Low turnout for Hong Kong ‘patriots’ polls
The Hindu
LegCo elections are the first since China’s overhaul of electoral system that gives it greater control
Low turnout and indifference among registered voters marked Hong Kong’s first elections since Beijing’s radical overhaul of the Special Administrative Region’s electoral system.
Polling booths in the SAR on Sunday saw trickles of voters coming in through the day, but none of the long lines and intense campaigning that were a trademark of past elections in Hong Kong. As of Sunday evening, the turnout was down by more than 40% from the last election in 2016.
Sunday’s polls to elect Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo) for the next four years were the first since Beijing passed legislation in March that gives it greater control. LegCo was expanded from 70 to 90 members, while the number of those directly elected was reduced from 35 to 20, thus giving voters less of a direct say in Hong Kong’s governance. Of the remaining 70, 40 are chosen by a new 1,200 member Election Committee while 30 are from what are called functional constituencies representing a range of industry, trade and other broadly pro-establishment interest groups.
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