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Hong Kong poll: student leader Nathan Law wins seat in record turnout Hong Kong poll: student leader Nathan Law wins seat in record turnout
(about 1 hour later)
At least three pro-independence candidates were forecast to win seats in Hong Kong’s legislative elections after a record turnout of 2.2 million voters. A new generation of pro-independence candidates were forecast to win seats in Hong Kong’s legislative elections after a record turnout of 2.2 million voters.
With 90% of the vote counted by 10.30am local time on Monday, young activists calling for greater distance from Beijing’s influence were poised to take their place in the former British colony’s Legislative Council (LegCo).With 90% of the vote counted by 10.30am local time on Monday, young activists calling for greater distance from Beijing’s influence were poised to take their place in the former British colony’s Legislative Council (LegCo).
Among them is Nathan Law, 23, leader of the so-called “Umbrella movement” rallies of 2014, who is guaranteed a seat after coming second in his constituency behind a pro-Beijing candidate. Among them was Nathan Law, 23, leader of the so-called “Umbrella movement” rallies of 2014, who is guaranteed a seat after coming second in his constituency behind a pro-Beijing candidate.
Law and his new party Demosisto are calling for a referendum on independence, emphasising Hong Kongers’ right to choose.Law and his new party Demosisto are calling for a referendum on independence, emphasising Hong Kongers’ right to choose.
“I think Hong Kongers really wanted change,” Law said, celebrating his win. “Young people have a sense of urgency when it comes to the future.”“I think Hong Kongers really wanted change,” Law said, celebrating his win. “Young people have a sense of urgency when it comes to the future.”
Another victor, the social activist Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, predicted a shift in the politics of the city after a landslide victory in his constituency.
“The result shows that Hong Kong people believe we need a paradigm shift in the democratic movement,” the tearful independent candidate said. “We should no longer follow strictly to the Basic Law.”
In another surprising result, two candidates from the group Youngspiration, 25-year-old Yau Wai-ching and 30-year-old Sixtus “Baggio” Leung, looked set for victory. The latter stepped in to run after a friend, Edward Leung of Hong Kong Indigenous, was disqualified for advocating independence.
The city-wide vote was the biggest since mass pro-democracy protests in 2014 and saw candidates fighting for seats in the LegCo amid concerns grow that Beijing is tightening its grip on the semi-autonomous city.The city-wide vote was the biggest since mass pro-democracy protests in 2014 and saw candidates fighting for seats in the LegCo amid concerns grow that Beijing is tightening its grip on the semi-autonomous city.
At some polling stations there were long queues until until 2:30am on Monday morning – four hours later than the scheduled cut-off time – with a turnout of almost 60% of 3.7 million voters. That compares with 53% in the last LegCo elections in 2012.At some polling stations there were long queues until until 2:30am on Monday morning – four hours later than the scheduled cut-off time – with a turnout of almost 60% of 3.7 million voters. That compares with 53% in the last LegCo elections in 2012.
“There was a record-breaking amount of people casting their ballots this year,” Electoral Affairs Commission chairman Barnabus Fung told reporters on Monday.“There was a record-breaking amount of people casting their ballots this year,” Electoral Affairs Commission chairman Barnabus Fung told reporters on Monday.
Most established pro-democracy politicians do not support the notion of independence and may lose seats to voters who now favour more radical new groups.Most established pro-democracy politicians do not support the notion of independence and may lose seats to voters who now favour more radical new groups.
If the democrats lose just four seats overall, they will forfeit the one-third voting bloc they need to veto bills, stacking the already skewed legislature even more in favour of Beijing.If the democrats lose just four seats overall, they will forfeit the one-third voting bloc they need to veto bills, stacking the already skewed legislature even more in favour of Beijing.
It is almost impossible for the democracy camp to take a majority in LegCo as 30 of its 70 seats are elected by special interest groups representing a range of businesses and social sectors. Those seats go predominantly to pro-Beijing candidates.It is almost impossible for the democracy camp to take a majority in LegCo as 30 of its 70 seats are elected by special interest groups representing a range of businesses and social sectors. Those seats go predominantly to pro-Beijing candidates.
Only 40 seats are directly elected by the public.Only 40 seats are directly elected by the public.
Fears that Hong Kong’s freedoms are disappearing were fanned after five city booksellers known for salacious titles about Beijing politicians disappeared, resurfacing in detention on the mainland.Fears that Hong Kong’s freedoms are disappearing were fanned after five city booksellers known for salacious titles about Beijing politicians disappeared, resurfacing in detention on the mainland.
That fuelled the fire of the “localist” movement, which grew out of the failure of the 2014 rallies to win political reform.That fuelled the fire of the “localist” movement, which grew out of the failure of the 2014 rallies to win political reform.
It saw the emergence of young campaigners demanding outright independence for Hong Kong – a subject which was taboo until recently – offering the chance for the city to determine its own future.It saw the emergence of young campaigners demanding outright independence for Hong Kong – a subject which was taboo until recently – offering the chance for the city to determine its own future.
Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” agreement intended to protect its freedoms and partial autonomy for 50 years. However, many young campaigners believe that deal has failed.Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” agreement intended to protect its freedoms and partial autonomy for 50 years. However, many young campaigners believe that deal has failed.