District Council elections were held in Hong Kong in the year 2019, during which protests were going on in the country demanding democracy.
In Hong Kong, elections for the District Council were held on Sunday. We would like to inform you that the voting percentage in this election was only 27.5%, the lowest in Hong Kong’s history. The government’s directive that only patriots be allowed to vote is thought to be the cause of the low voting percentage.
In the past, as the call for democracy in Hong Kong grew stronger, the Chinese government responded with harsh measures and attempted to label those who supported it as anti-nationals. For this reason, the government has appealed that only patriots be allowed to cast ballots this time.
Huge decline in voting compared to last time
Out of the 43 lakh people living in Hong Kong, only 12 lakh people cast ballots in the voting that was conducted on Sunday, accounting for just 27.54 percent of the total vote. 2019 saw the holding of District Council elections in Hong Kong, amidst nationwide demonstrations calling for democracy. It is important to remember that pro-democracy parties had won with 71 percent of the vote at that point.
The Chinese government implemented strict law
But following that, the Chinese government enacted harsh legislation targeting advocates of democracy. This law reduced the number of directly elected seats from 462 to 88, and it went into effect in May. Landlords in rural areas near the government and mayors of larger cities control the other 382 seats. Furthermore, a government-appointed committee of three people nominates candidates for elections, making it nearly impossible for proponents of democracy to engage in the political process. In addition, proponents of democracy are facing harsh police measures.
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