Over 600,000 Hong Kongers cast pro-democracy vote against new security laws
Hong Kong’s opposition camp said on Sunday that over 600,000 citizens in the Chinese-ruled city cast ballots over the weekend in primaries it cast as a symbolic protest vote against tough national security laws imposed by Beijing.
The unofficial poll will decide the strongest pro-democracy candidates to contest elections in September to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. Then, they aim to seize majority control for the first time from pro-Beijing rivals by riding a wave of anti-China sentiment stirred by the law, which critics say has gravely undermined Hong Kong’s freedoms.
While the primaries are only for the opposition camp, the level of participation is seen as a guide to popular opinion in the city of 7.5 million people, a major financial hub.
“A high turnout will send a very strong signal to the international community, that we Hong Kongers never give up,” said Sunny Cheung, 24, one of a batch of aspiring young democrats out lobbying and giving stump speeches.
“And that we still stand with the democratic camp, we still support democracy and freedom.”
Read more:
China’s parliament passes Hong Kong national security law to tackle ‘terrorism’
Hong Kong police charge first person as new security law passes
UK foreign secretary says China's new security law violates Hong Kong agreement
Defying warnings from a senior Hong Kong official that the vote might fall foul of the national security law, residents young and old flocked to over 250 polling stations across the city, manned by thousands of volunteers.
Long queues formed, with people voting via their mobile phones after having their identities verified.
‘See the courage’
Organizers said 592,000 people had voted online, and 21,000 had cast paper ballots at the end of two full days of polling, -- more than expected, and representing around a third of voters who backed the democrats in an election last year.

“Even under the shadow of the national security law, there were still 600,000 people coming out,” said an organizer, Au Nok-hin. “You can see the courage of the Hong Kong people in this ... Hong Kongers have created another miracle.”
The new law punishes what China describes broadly as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and allows mainland security agents to operate officially in Hong Kong for the first time.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app
Despite this tactical vote to maximize their chances, some pro-democracy activists fear authorities may yet try to stop some candidates from running in September’ election.
“They can arrest or disqualify any candidate they don’t like under the national security law without a proper reason,” said Owen Chow, a young democratic “localist” candidate.
At a time when Hong Kong authorities have barred public marches and rallies for months on end amid coronavirus social restrictions, and arrested individuals for shouting slogans and holding up blank sheets of paper, the vote was seen as a crucial and rare window for populist expression.
“I can really feel that young people haven’t given up yet, even though we are facing a very depressing future,” said Prince Wong, 22, a candidate in the New Territories West district.
-
Facebook, Whatsapp say suspending user info requests from Hong Kong government
Facebook and its messaging service WhatsApp said Monday they are suspending requests from the Hong Kong government and law enforcement authorities for ... Digital -
Coronavirus: Hong Kong suspends all schools due to COVID-19 spike
Hong Kong's Education Bureau on Friday announced the suspension of all schools from Monday after a spike in locally transmitted coronavirus cases that ... Coronavirus -
China rebukes Canada over criticism of Hong Kong security law amid tense relations
China fired back at Canada on Saturday for criticizing Beijing’s national security law for Hong Kong, the second rebuke in a week that has added to ... World News -
Democracy books disappear from Hong Kong days after China imposed security law
Books written by prominent Hong Kong democracy activists have started to disappear from the city’s libraries, online records show, days after Beijing ... World News -
Canada suspends extradition with Hong Kong in protest against China security law
Canada on Friday suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong to protest the tough new national security law China has enacted in the financial hub ... World News -
Hong Kong police charge first person as new security law passes
Hong Kong police on Friday brought their first charges under a sweeping new national security law that Beijing imposed on the city earlier this week. ... World News -
China warns Britain of retaliation over Hong Kong citizenship plan
China warned Britain on Thursday it could retaliate with “corresponding measures” for London’s decision to extend a broader path to citizenship for ... World News -
UK foreign secretary says China's new security law violates Hong Kong agreement
Britain’s foreign secretary has told reporters that China’s new national security law for Hong Kong “is a clear and serious violation” of the ... World News -
New Hong Kong Security law: Police fire water cannon at protesters, make first arrest
Hong Kong police fired water cannon on Wednesday to break up the first protest since China introduced sweeping security legislation and they made ... World News