Hong Kong elections: tougher action expected from Beijing against opposition camp after frontline activists’ win at primary

Analysts warn radicalisation and narrowing of city’s political spectrum could prompt more hardline approach from central government, while rivals feel this could work against their camp in coming Legco polls

Traditional opposition parties meanwhile say they believe in a silent, conservative majority among supporters who would still rather pursue livelihood issues and policies

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Joshua Wong was among candidates in the primary who won big. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 8:00am, 15 Jul 2020Updated: 8:00am, 15 Jul 2020

Hong Kong’s opposition camp could face tougher action from Beijing in the coming Legislative Council elections, analysts have warned after activists on the front lines of anti-government protests outperformed their rivals in the bloc’s primary.

Two days after the weekend primary, two central government offices overseeing Hong Kong affairs, alongside the city’s leader, had already lashed out at organisers in a coordinated salvo, warning the camp of potentially breaching the new national security law by trying to subvert state power.

A larger-than-expected number of Hongkongers showed up for the opposition’s weekend primary. Photo: Felix Wong

The primary, in which more than 610,000 Hongkongers voted to determine who should represent the opposition to run in the September Legco elections, was held with the bloc’s “35-plus” campaign – alluding to the majority needed in the 70-seat legislature. The aim was for a “massive constitutional weapon” to veto the annual budget and disrupt the government.

In the eyes of voters, the candidates’ spirit of resistance overrides other traditional elements like policy platforms, as well as academic and professional backgrounds

Joshua Wong, activist

Activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung, along with five allies who all advocated a more confrontational approach against the establishment, had won the primary in their respective constituencies by a wide margin, according to preliminary results announced by organiser Power of Democracy.

“The victory of activists in the primary implies the continuation of the spirit of our resistance against China’s growing curbs over Hong Kong’s freedoms,” Wong said. “In the eyes of voters, the candidates’ spirit of resistance overrides other traditional elements like policy platforms, as well as academic and professional backgrounds.”

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