As I write this, I have just returned from voting at the polling station set up by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Sheung Shui. The SAR government has shown great consideration in organizing this district council election. I went to the newly established polling station in Sheung Shui, which was conveniently set up for Hong Kong voters residing on the Chinese mainland. Upon arriving at Sheung Shui train station, I immediately noticed the HKSAR government’s thoughtful arrangement of free shuttle buses that transported voters between the train station and the two polling stations.
I have two observations regarding this election:
As for those supporters of the former “yellow camp” who have fled overseas and criticized this election, their aim is not only to validate their decision to leave but also to seek solace and self-delusion. They accused this year’s election of lacking candidates from the “democratic” camp, and therefore labeled it as a “fake democratic process”. This is complete nonsense. Since when does Hong Kong need the validation of the “democratic” camp to determine the level of democracy in its elections? By that logic, should Western democracies only consider candidates who do not love their own countries as “democratically qualified”? In fact, Western democratic countries would never allow candidates who advocate separatism or harbor hostility toward their own nations to run for public office.
This election has been intense but peaceful. Throughout the six-week campaigning period, no candidates have been physically harmed or stabbed, no campaign offices have been maliciously damaged, and there have been no physical confrontations between candidates. Voters could collect campaign materials from candidates on the streets without worrying about language violence from “yellow camp” supporters or sudden physical attacks from black-clad protesters. Elections should be a peaceful expression of civic sentiment after careful deliberation, rather than voting under the shadow of violent protests, as has been the case in the 2019 DC elections.
In this atmosphere, the Registration and Electoral Office also believed in the candidates’ ability to campaign rationally, allowing for larger areas to be freed from campaigning restrictions. According to media statistics, in today’s district council elections, out of the 604 general polling stations, 550 are in the same locations as during the Legislative Council elections in 2021. Among them, 90 percent or 496 polling stations have reduced the size of their restricted areas compared to previous years. For 202 polling stations, the restricted areas have shrunk by more than half compared to the Legislative Council elections two years ago, accounting for approximately one-third of the total.
Finally, after casting my vote, I checked-in at the designated point of the polling station. Without the atmosphere of hatred, division and instigation from the “yellow camp” of “life and death” competitiveness, I was able to leisurely check-in and the atmosphere was filled with joy. In the past, if I dared to take photos in front of the designated check-in point provided by the HKSAR government, I would be subject to verbal abuse by “yellow camp” supporters, intentionally bumped into, causing my cellphone to drop, or even forcefully given campaign materials. If I ignored the “yellow camp” supporters, I would face vicious accusations on the spot. This is completely different from today’s intense yet orderly, progressive yet joyful atmosphere. This is a true election held under the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong”. Democracy has always been about “unity in diversity”, without tearing each other apart or morally condemning one another. December 10 was such a good experience!
The author is a former information coordinator of the HKSAR government and a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
