Hong Kong Records Worst Voter Turnout For Legislative Election

Hong Kong notched its worst voter turnout --- 30.2%--- on the “patriots only” legislative election on Sunday, confirming popular revulsion at the crackdown on dissent and Beijing’s imposition of the draconian National Security Law, Jessie Leung reported for CNN.

Photo Insert: Carrie Lam, the city's leader, casting her vote

According to a government report, the turnout was 30.2% by the close of polls — far lower than the previous record low of 43.6%, in 2000. The last legislative election five years ago saw a 58% turnout. In an attempt to boost the vote, the city offered free public transport all day — but rather than going to the polls, many Hong Kongers instead appeared to take the free trains and buses to hiking trails and campsites.

The results, announced Monday morning, saw pro-establishment candidates claim all 20 seats in the available geographic constituencies. None of the city's major pro-democracy parties fielded any candidates.

Carrie Lam, the city's leader, thanked voters late Sunday night, saying it was "an important election following the improvements to the electoral system to implement the principle of 'patriots administering Hong Kong."

A number of Hong Kong activists had called on voters to boycott the election in the run-up to Sunday, arguing the government's enforced screening of candidates under its new "patriotism" mandate effectively eliminated opposition voices — a criticism echoed by many rights groups and international observers.

Former lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui, both in self-exile, were among those advocating a boycott. Hong Kong authorities subsequently issued arrest warrants against them.

Sunday's low turnout stands in stark contrast to 2019 when nearly 3 million people — a 71.2% turnout — voted in district council elections that delivered a landslide victory for the pro-democracy camp.

The 2019 election took place months into the city's pro-democracy protest movement, after million-strong marches and street clashes between demonstrators and police. At the time, the vote was framed as a de facto referendum on the protests.

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