Letters | Legco election: 3 reasons the low voter turnout is no failure

Readers call for a focus on quality over quantity with regard to the new Legislative Council, the proper disposal of election banners, continued support for a charity hit by scandal, a review of Hong Kong’s stressful education system, and a positive mindset for Hong Kong

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Newly elected lawmakers visit the Legislative Council chamber on December 23. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 6:30am, 1 Jan 2022

The voter turnout for the 2021 Legislative Council election was 30.2 per cent, the lowest since 1997. Some people interpreted this as a failure of democracy. There is no opposition, some complained.

First, it is the quality that counts, and not the quantity. We want to elect a constructive council that works for Hong Kong and China, and not a foreign country.

Since most from the yellow camp stayed away from the election, let it be. There is no point making up a council that gets nothing important done. For example, Article 23 has still not been passed, leaving Hong Kong vulnerable to foreign interference. Hong Kong education has produced some youngsters capable of inflicting verbal or bodily violence on other people with different opinions.

Second, there is still a diversity of opinions in the council. This is constructive diversity by those who love Hong Kong and China, and not destructive opposition by those who oppose for the sake of opposing.

Third, there are many reasons why people do not vote. Apart from the yellow camp’s boycott, some could be content with their lives.

Look at Taiwan. It is grappling with a political and health issue regarding US pork that contains the feed additive ractopamine. Yet more than half of the Taiwanese did not vote in the referendum against this issue. Maybe some do not believe the chemical is harmful. Maybe some do not have the expertise to know if the chemical is harmful, and chose to trust politicians.