Pro-Beijing candidates sweep controversial Hong Kong election

Pro-Beijing candidates swept a recent legislative election in Hong Kong amid growing fears that China is clamping down on the city’s freedoms.

Some of the candidates chanted “guaranteed win” at a voting site amid a low turnout of just more than 30 percent, half the turnout reported in 2016, Reuters reported.

“But 1.35 million coming out to vote – it cannot be said that it was not an … election that did not get a lot of support from citizens,” Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said Monday. While Lam acknowledged that the turnout was low, she did not provide an explanation as to why, according to the news service.

Meanwhile, some have argued that turnout is an indication of legitimacy, especially considering China’s recently passed national security law and the jailing or exile of democratic candidates in Hong Kong who had voiced a desire to run for office, Reuters added.

Only candidates who were deemed “patriots” were permitted to run in the election, which prompted some, including a group of joint foreign leaders, to issue statements condemning the election.

“We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, noting the outcome of the Legislative Council elections in Hong Kong, express our grave concern over the erosion of democratic elements of the Special Administrative Region’s electoral system,” the joint statement said.

“Actions that undermine Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms and high degree of autonomy are threatening our shared wish to see Hong Kong succeed,” it added.