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Hong Kong’s district council election was held on November 24, 2019. The opposition bloc won 392 out of 452 seats, while their pro-establishment rivals took the remaining 60.
Voters at last Sunday’s “patriots-only” poll had to choose between pro-establishment contenders. Many regarded this as no choice at all.
Described as ‘high-calibre patriots’ by Hong Kong’s leader, it remains to be seen whether they will improve district bodies.
Hong Kong now looks to ‘patriotic’ councillors successfully returned following a ballot marred by technical glitches and an anticipated low turnout.
Members of ethnic minority groups in Hong Kong show it is possible to run in an election as long as one embraces rules laid down by Beijing.
- With record-low election turnout of 27.59 per cent, government spent an average of HK$102 on publicity for each vote in December 10 poll
- Sum was about 90 per cent more than HK$635 million spent on 2019 election
Government appoints 2,999 members to three committees across 18 districts, 466 more than last term.
Some councillors point to high rental prices as biggest challenge, especially in constituencies located in commercial districts or private housing estates.
Xia Baolong, director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, also joined city leader John Lee for dim sum breakfast to discuss municipal-level administration.
Subsidies don’t stretch far enough to cover rents, assistants’ pay and other expenses, councillors say.
Electoral Affairs Commission also reveals that more than 2,000 voters not included in turnout rate, but says final results not affected.
Yeung Sze-wing, 51, sentenced to two months in jail but term is suspended for two years owing to guilty plea and ‘other mitigating factors’.
Authorities offer breakdown of promotion drive for first ‘patriots-only’ district council poll last month, which drew record-low turnout, but stop short of revealing total price tag.
Only two of 18 district councils are proposing events with local flair and experts warn weak desire to spend and overlapping schedules may cause parties to fizzle out.
Planned ‘Night Vibes Tsim Sha Tsui’ campaign involves street performances, lighting decorations and activities to boost consumption.
470 councillors swear oath of allegiance under supervision of home affairs chief Alice Mak.
Readers discuss what individuals and the UN can do to foster peace in Gaza, the litter left in the wake of the district council election, and the rewards of reading.
Readers discuss the taunts calling Hong Kong a ‘relic’ of a financial hub, what the new district councillors must do, and why AI literacy must be taught in schools.
Home affair chief Alice Mak discusses new requirement after two closed-door briefings, weeks before new district councillors take office on January 1.
President Xi Jinping also urged John Lee’s administration to unite society and boost the city’s development by seizing ‘historic opportunities’.
Post readers discuss the purpose of voting in Hong Kong elections, the reasons behind the BJP’s success in India, and how local libraries can engage the elderly.
Forty-nine appointees, or 27 per cent, ran in the previous municipal-body election in 2019 and lost.
Chief Executive John Lee urges residents to focus on election outcome and defends voting rate as a ‘good turnout’, despite hitting record low.
Readers discuss the positive momentum in bilateral relations following the Xi-Biden summit, protection against the winter flu season, district council election turnout and taxi drivers’ woes.
Councillors’ performance will affect people’s confidence in electoral system overhauled at the behest of the central government, observers say.
City’s largest pro-establishment parties, DAB and FTU, take lion’s share of seats and votes in first municipal-level poll since overhaul of district councils earlier this year.
