Hong Kong election: Turnout near record low amid anger over deadly fire • FRANCE 24 English

Hong Kong is left to digest the results after low turnout elections. The ballot came while many residents are still in mourning for those who died in a devastating fire in a high-rise apartment complex in November. Nearly 160 people died in the blaze which was top of many voters minds. Everyone is in a bad mood because of this fire. So people hoped that voters would come out and choose counselors who can actually get things done. Regarding the fire, the main thing is for legislators to help the victims because they’re really suffering. I can’t even sleep myself. Hearing this news makes everyone feel very heartbroken. Voters were selecting 90 members of the Ledge Co, Hong Kong’s legislative body which can make and amend laws. 161 candidates were in the running for seats, all of whom went through a vetting process to assure their loyalty to Beijing. Turnout levels were seen as a litmus test for the Chinesebacked government after a state organized campaign to drive up voter participation. Ultimately, there was a slight increase in turnout from the previous election at 31.9% up from 30.2% in 2021. Although that figure remains far down from previous levels of around 50% prior to electoral changes brought in by Beijing, many voters in Hong Kong have turned away from politics since a state organized crackdown against opposition parties.

About a third of Hong Kong ‘s registered voters elected a new 90-member legislature Sunday, a turnout that avoided an embarrassment for the government but fell short of a ringing endorsement of an electoral system revamp that eliminated the once feisty opposition in the Chinese territory.
#HongKong #Asia #Election

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5 comments

  2. Hong Kong and its people are facing existential threat from CCP
    This was during election week

    Accident numbers are much higher than whats shown

  4. Don't remember seeing the French complaining when the Hong Kongers had to submit to the Brits officials appointed by her majesty thousands of miles away. Perhaps, France was the same to its colonial subjects.

  5. FRANCE 24 didn't provide the full picture of the election status. The number of people has voted in 2025 election is in fact lower than that in 2021. It is a record low turnout in 2025.

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