The Hong Kong justice minister has said voter turnout at the upcoming “patriots only” legislative elections may be hampered by views that post-electoral reform polls are “not democratic enough.”
Speaking at an election seminar on Wednesday, Lam said that the turnout at the December 7 polls might be affected by dissatisfaction with amendments to electoral arrangements. The elections “may not be considered democratic enough,” he said.
But despite those views, Article 68 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, which states that the “ultimate aim” is to elect all Legislative Council (LegCo) members by universal suffrage, remains unchanged, Lam said in a Facebook post.
The legislature’s future development, he added, “depends on whether it can instil confidence in the central authorities.”
The previous LegCo race, held in December 2021, months after the Beijing electoral overhaul, saw a record-low 30.2 per cent turnout.
The 2022-25 legislature has been widely seen as passive, with lawmakers accused of lacking their own insights and primarily intending to flatter Beijing.
Outgoing lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen, on his last day of work last month, said the legislature’s voices were not diverse enough, compared with when it had the benefit of free expression in the past.
‘Unfamiliar’ with new faces
The justice minister also said on Wednesday that people might be unfamiliar with some election candidates. As fresh faces are introduced, “we should proactively learn about the candidates,” he said.
A total of 35 incumbent lawmakers – nearly 40 per cent of the sitting LegCo members – are not seeking re-election, including all 12 septuagenarian legislators, following speculation about an age limit for the next term.
A total of 161 candidates are running in the second “patriots only” legislative elections next month.
Among the 90 contested seats, 20 will be returned from the directly elected geographical constituencies; 30 from special interest groups known as functional constituencies; and 40 from the powerful Election Committee, which is also responsible for choosing the chief executive.
Lam urged people to exercise their right to vote and to persuade their friends and families to do so.
Actively taking part in the elections demonstrates support for the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong” and will undoubtedly strengthen the central government’s confidence in “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong,” he added.
In March 2021, Beijing passed legislation to ensure “patriots” govern Hong Kong. The move reduced democratic representation in the legislature, tightened control of elections and introduced a pro-Beijing vetting panel to select candidates. Authorities say the overhaul ensures the city’s stability and prosperity. But the changes also prompted international condemnation, as much of the traditional opposition remains behind bars, in self-exile or has quit politics.
