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Hot-button issues fail to inspire doubters

It's no use voting as politicians just ignore us, say those who stayed away

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While yesterday's Legco election drew more voters than the poll in 2008, some people still chose not vote because they did not think it would make any difference to their lives.

Yuen Lai-kwan, a merchandiser living in Tsz Wan Shan, was among those who stayed away.

"There's no use voting. The politicians say one thing and do another," said Yuen, who has never voted in a Legco election. She said she had read all the election material sent to her but just found all the candidates boastful.

"Although sometimes what the pan-democrats say is right, the government does not care, like what happened over national education," Yuen said.

"Anyway, the current situation has not yet reached the critical point and I'll just look on. There has always been a balance between pan-democrats and the pro-establishment in every election. When the moment arrives, I'll come out," she said, adding she was pessimistic about Hong Kong's political environment.

Yuen also said she applauded the anti-national education campaign organised by student group Scholarism but did not think it would make a difference because the government did not care.

Another man, surnamed Lee, said he had been frustrated by the lawmakers' performance for many years and so decided not to vote this year.

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