10-12-2023 (HONG KONG) Hong Kong is set to hold its first “patriots only” district elections on Sunday, a move that further marginalizes opposition figures due to Beijing’s national security crackdown. The pro-China government aims to boost turnout, contrasting with the record 71% turnout during the 2019 council elections amid mass pro-democracy protests.
Introduced in July, amendments reduced directly elected district council seats by nearly 80%, and candidates now face national security background checks and require nominations from pro-government committees. These changes effectively exclude democrats, intensifying the limitations on electoral freedoms in the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
The 2020 national security law has led to arrests of former district councillors and the dissolution of major opposition parties. While western governments argue that the law stifles dissent, China claims it has brought stability to Hong Kong after the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
Constitutional affairs secretary Eric Tsang warned of risks posed by “anti-China” disrupters seeking to undermine the voting process. Over 10,000 police are expected to be deployed for order maintenance on election day.
Critics view the elections, where only 88 of the 470 seats are directly elected, as undemocratic. Pro-democracy district councillor Johnny Chung decided not to run, expressing his commitment to original values and beliefs. Pro-Beijing and pro-government parties have campaigned vigorously to increase turnout.
Political scientist Kenneth Chan described the elections as “backtracking” on democracy, emphasizing the establishment of a “patriots-only governance structure.” Despite senior officials promoting the elections as broadly representative, critics argue that discussing democracy in today’s Hong Kong is increasingly challenging.
