Vote this way: Chinese state-owned firms reportedly hand out instructions to staff on how to vote in Hong Kong elections
Chairman of a Hong Kong-listed firm recommends that staff vote for an old friend
Chinese state-owned enterprises China Resources Land and Bank of China (Hong Kong) as well as Hong Kong-listed South China Holdings have reportedly handed instructions to their Hong Kong staff about how to vote in today’s Legislative Council elections in a bid to give the pro-establishment camp a helping hand, according to Reuters and documents obtained by the South China Morning Post.
A staff member at Bank of China (Hong Kong), which employs 15,000 people in Hong Kong, showed Reuters a list with names of pro-Beijing candidates handed out by the firm, and said employees were told to call their managers after voting.
A China Resources Land employee was also reportedly given a letter from the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, which has more than 1,000 members in the city, asking staff to vote for patriotic candidates who “love China and love Hong Kong”. Some were shown specific candidate lists in meetings with their managers.
Neither company replied to email inquiries made by the Post.
In addition, Robert Ng Hung-sang, chairman of Hong Kong-listed South China Holdings, which has massive property investments on the mainland, appeared to have done an old friend a favour.
A memo issued from the chairman’s office and obtained by the Post showed he recommended those living on Hong Kong Island to vote for pro-establishment former lawmaker Chim Pui-chung.