HONG KONG: On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s leader staunchly defended the upcoming local elections, asserting that they adhere to principles of openness and fairness. However, these elections have become increasingly exclusionary, effectively preventing the participation of the city’s remaining pro-democracy activists due to a recent electoral overhaul.
The Democratic Party, which has long been the city’s largest pro-democracy political entity, will be notably absent from the upcoming December district council election. This marks the first time since its establishment in 1994 that the party will not be part of the electoral process. Party chair Lo Kin-hei expressed that he and other members were unable to secure the required number of nominations under the new rules that the authorities introduced to ensure that only “patriots administer Hong Kong.” Several other smaller groups within the pro-democracy camp faced similar challenges.
Chief Executive John Lee emphasized during a weekly news briefing that candidates must earn the trust and support of the people they seek nominations from. He stated, “It is up to you to ensure that you can convince the person you want to convince.”
The district councils, historically seen as the last significant political representative bodies elected by the public, have been drastically restructured as part of the electoral overhaul. The changes have resulted in the elimination of most directly elected seats within these municipal-level organizations.
The absence of pan-democratic candidates highlights the diminishing space for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. This decline is attributed to a government crackdown on dissidents following the anti-government protests that surged in 2019.
To enter the electoral race, candidates now need endorsements from at least nine members of local committees, many of whom are aligned with the pro-government factions. Some pro-government politicians, such as lawmaker Michael Tien, have also acknowledged the challenges in securing nominations for their groups.
While elections for district council seats have typically garnered limited international attention due to their focus on municipal matters like managing construction projects and maintaining public facilities, their significance grew after the city’s pro-democracy camp achieved a resounding victory in the last poll during the peak of the 2019 protests. At that time, these wins were hailed as a triumph for the people of Hong Kong.
