Hong Kong officials seek to drum up enthusiasm for Legislative Council poll, argue revamped process trumps ‘liberal political system’

Finance chief Paul Chan, health secretary Sophia Chan and others use their official blogs to present a united front on Sunday, calling for residents to vote on December 19

Social media posts also echo Beijing’s questioning of Western-style democratic systems, arguing they benefit only the rich to the detriment of ordinary residents

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Hong Kong officials on Sunday turned to social media to urge residents to vote in next week’s Legco poll. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 1:34pm, 12 Dec 2021Updated: 8:17pm, 12 Dec 2021

With the Legislative Council election just a week away, Hong Kong officials on Sunday attempted to drum up enthusiasm for a poll devoid of mainstream opposition candidates, with the finance chief insisting Beijing’s overhaul of the electoral process would help solve deep-seated problems.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also argued that the Western-style “liberal political system” had proved to benefit the rich only while sacrificing the interests of the wider public, which he said was detrimental to the long-term stability of society.

Observers and even the pro-establishment camp have widely predicted a low turnout for next Sunday’s poll, the first for Legco since Beijing overhauled the electoral system to ensure only “patriots” hold power.

Opposition parties are sitting the race out, saying the new electoral rules, including a vetting process that placed their would-be candidacies in the hands of the establishment, were intended to stifle dissent.

Only about a dozen candidates considered moderates or centrists have thrown their hats in the ring in a bid to break a near-total monopoly by the city’s Beijing-friendly camp.

In what appeared to be a last-ditch effort to drum up enthusiasm for the poll, several ministers on Sunday used their official blogs to call on residents to vote.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Sunday joined a recent wave of government voices in questioning the value of Western-style democracy. Photo: Martin Chan

Chan argued the revamped electoral system, which has slashed the number of directly elected seats, would ensure an accurate implementation of the “one country, two systems” governing principle and allow the executive-led government to play to its strengths.