Hong Kong (EFE).- Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee urged voters on Sunday to head to the polls in the 8th Legislative Council elections, in which low turnout is anticipated following the devastating fire at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex that killed 159 people less than two weeks ago.
The election marks the second implementation of the electoral reform introduced in 2021 at the behest of Beijing, which reduced the number of seats elected by universal suffrage from 35 to 20, increased the weight of indirect mechanisms, and transformed the elections into one in which only “patriots» can participate.
Lee, who voted early at a polling station in the Mid-Levels district, urged citizens to vote, telling the press that these elections represent a vote for reforms, a vote for the protection of the victims of the Wang Fuk Court fire, and a vote to join forces and move forward.
The leader said his administration will submit a motion for support for the victims and reconstruction as soon as the new Legislative Council is formed early next year.
Authorities have extended polling hours, opened new polling centers, and urged companies to facilitate voting to encourage participation in the elections, which are held every four years to renew the body responsible for passing laws, overseeing the government, and reviewing budgets.
By midday local time, the day was proceeding without incident, and 426,900 voters had cast their ballots, representing a turnout of 10.3 percent, almost a point higher than the turnout at that time in the 2021 elections.
Those elections saw a record low turnout of 30.2 percent, which authorities fear will be repeated Sunday as a result of the fire, which has called into question the government’s handling of the crisis after initial investigations revealed serious technical irregularities.
Although the government initially considered postponing the elections after the devastating fire, it ultimately decided to hold them on the scheduled date, arguing that holding them demonstrates institutional maturity and that the process can coexist with respect for the victims and the management of the emergency.
In total, 161 candidates are competing for 90 seats: 51 in territorial constituencies, 60 in functional constituencies, and 50 appointed by the Electoral Committee, which is dominated by figures aligned with the central government.
Functional constituencies represent specific professional groups, business sectors, or special interests, and only registered voters in these sectors can vote in them. This has drawn criticism for its limited representativeness, favoring corporate interests and elites. EFE
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