Editorial | A successful election can only be in the best interest of Hong Kong
- Sunday’s Legco elections are the first litmus test of public sentiment since Beijing’s drastic revamp for a “patriots-only” race prompted an unprecedented opposition boycott
- While it remains to be seen whether this will result in a record low turnout, the vote is still bound to further shape Hong Kong’s political landscape and future development
To vote or not to vote – is the usual question on people’s mind when the city goes to the polls. What sets Sunday’s ballot apart is the unusual circumstances. For the first time, the Legislative Council elections are held amid a prolonged global pandemic.
It is also the first litmus test of public sentiment since Beijing’s drastic revamp for a “patriots-only” race prompted an unprecedented boycott by opposition parties. So high are the stakes that the vote is bound to further shape Hong Kong’s political landscape and future development.
Despite the all-out publicity drive by all sides, the atmosphere is anything but enthusiastic. This is not surprising though, given the epidemic, which already delayed the ballot from last year, is still fluctuating.
The polling arrangements this time are also so different that many voters may feel confused, if not disengaged. Even though all 90 seats involve competition for the first time and the candidate line-up is said to have the broadest range of political representation, many of the 153 contestants remain unfamiliar to the public.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor raised eyebrows earlier when she said voters might not bother to vote in times of good governance. “I think the turnout rate does not mean anything,” she said.
