After Beijing passed a resolution to amend the city’s election laws, pro-Beijing candidates dominated Hong Kong’s legislative elections, beating moderates and independents in the city’s first public election. Candidates loyal to Beijing won a majority of seats in Sunday’s election, after laws were changed to ensure that only pro-Beijing patriots could run the city.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said during a news conference on Monday that she was satisfied with the election despite the 30.2% turnout, the lowest since Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997.
He said the number of registered voters reached 92.5%, a record high compared to the 2012 and 2016 elections, when nearly 70% of voters had registered.
For registered voters, it is entirely a matter for them to decide whether they want to exercise their franchise in a particular election, she said.
1.35 million voters cast their votes in this election. Lam, referring to the city’s legislative council, said that not only did he return the candidates of his choice to Legko, and I think this was also because of his support for a better electoral system.
Under the new laws, the number of directly elected MPs was reduced from 35 to 20, while the legislature was increased from 70 to 90 seats. Most of the lawmakers were largely appointed by pro-Beijing bodies, ensuring that they form the majority of the legislature.
All candidates were also extensively screened by a pro-Beijing committee before being nominated.
Lam said that even though there were high turnout rates in 2019 based on bad politics, such as political polarization, during periods of political strife, it is not something we should be happy about.
The opposition camp criticized the elections, with the largest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party, not fielding a candidate for the first time since the 1997 handover.
Lam said he hoped it would be very exciting to work with the 90 legislators who have different views on many social issues.
Lam is expected to travel to Beijing on a duty-reporting visit later on Monday, which she says is to give Beijing full details on the latest political and economic situation in Hong Kong.
I look forward to covering a wide range of issues on this special duty visit because through two very decisive acts of central authorities, Hong Kong is now back on the right track of one country, two systems,’ she said. .
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