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SCMP Editorial

The revamped district council election is widely seen as the final step on the path to complete a high-stakes governance overhaul vital for Hong Kong’s future.
With a new league of “patriotic” councillors successfully returned following a ballot marred by technical glitches and an expected low turnout, the latest journey has just begun.
Those representatives, together with the government, have to live up to expectations and prove that people’s livelihoods can genuinely improve under the new system.
The way forward for the newly constituted lower-tier structure has been clearly reflected in the “five expectations” from the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.


Apart from upholding the principle of “one country, two systems” and adhering to the “non-government district organisation” role, members are also expected to help resolve conflicts, do practical things for residents, unite society and fulfil their duties conscientiously.
Describing it as a new chapter, Beijing’s liaison office expressed confidence in developing democracy with Hong Kong characteristics and enhancing the quality of district governance.
The overhaul came in a mission to improve livelihoods. Councils are required to address some complex and long-standing problems and deliver results that truly make a difference. They also have to stay united and enlist broader public support for their role.
Considering the huge campaigns urging people to vote, the turnout of 27.54 per cent may appear disappointing, but the outcome could have been worse had officials sat back and done nothing.
Voting behaviour is shaped in various ways. Public apathy should not come as too much of a surprise in light of the prevailing mood. Indeed, the government may be relieved to find more than a million people voted.
Hong Kong’s first ‘patriots-only’ district poll is ‘real, functioning democracy’
But the fact remains that the social divide deepened by the 2019 unrest, the imposed national security law that followed and electoral shake-up has yet to be bridged.
The sentiment of the “silent majority” is food for thought for the authorities and the newly elected, who have to reflect on how to win greater trust from voters.
It is unfortunate that the computer meltdown on Sunday night disrupted voting, fuelled criticism and then speculation.
The failure, officials said, was apparently not the result of a malicious attack. That raised questions over whether the authorities had been unprepared or too complacent on issues related to system reliability. The incident must be seriously investigated and lessons learned.
Nothing is too trivial when it comes to livelihoods. The public rightly expects more from district councils. The onus is now on the government and the new members to show that the revamp truly opens a new and better chapter for Hong Kong.


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Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong public expects better city, as promised in district poll revamp

Votes are counted in the Hong Kong district council election on Sunday. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong election authorities under fire over system failure disruption to district council poll, as parties demand answers

Voters check candidate information outside a polling booth in Wong Tai Sin. The electoral watchdog says the electronic voter registration system started experiencing problems at 7.42pm, which prevented ballot papers from being issued. Photo: Dickson Lee

Electoral Affairs Commission chairman David Lok choked up as he spoke to the press on Monday. Photo: RTHK

Hong Kong’s first ‘patriots-only’ district council election shows ‘real, functioning democracy’, Beijing and local authorities say despite record-low turnout

Data shows that 1,193,193 people – or 27.54 per cent of registered electors – voted on Sunday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Data shows that among voters, 22,045 cast blank or invalid ballots, representing 1.85 per cent of the overall figure. Photo: Dickson Lee

Low turnout at Hong Kong district council election: will Beijing be happy with result or will voter apathy be a problem in the future?

A polling station in Tai Koo Shing. About 1.2 million residents cast their votes on Sunday, falling well short of levels seen in the most recent 2019 municipal-level election. Photo: Sam Tsang

(From left) Electoral Affairs Commission member Daniel Shek, constitutional affairs chief Erick Tsang, commission head Mr Justice David Lok and Senior Counsel Bernard Man empty a ballot box in San Po Kong. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong’s first ‘patriots-only’ district council poll reflects political tale of two cities, as some eagerly rush to vote and others shy away

Sunday’s election saw some residents eager to cast their votes, as others gave polling stations a wide berth. Photo: Elson LI

A voter holds up their “thank you for voting” card for a picture outside a polling station in North Point. Photo: Sam Tsang

Some scalpers have taken to selling the cards online. Photo: SCMP

Opinion

Hong Kong now looks to ‘patriotic’ councillors successfully returned following a ballot marred by technical glitches and an anticipated low turnout


Hong Kong now looks to ‘patriotic’ councillors successfully returned following a ballot marred by technical glitches and an anticipated low turnout.


Hong Kong

Hong Kong electoral changes

Hong Kong elections

Hong Kong district council election

Hong Kong political reform

Hong Kong election committee

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Editorial

Hong Kong public expects better city, as promised in district poll revamp

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Hong Kong now looks to ‘patriotic’ councillors successfully returned following a ballot marred by technical glitches and an anticipated low turnout

Hong Kong now looks to ‘patriotic’ councillors successfully returned following a ballot marred by technical glitches and an anticipated low turnout