Hong Kong votes in election as city mourns deadly fires

Hong Kongers are voting in an election seen as a test of public sentiment after deadly fires that outraged parts of the city.

The government has launched a massive campaign to encourage Hong Kongers to elect members of the Legislative Council (LegCo). All candidates were screened to ensure their loyalty to China.

The election took place as many people mourned the Tai Po fire that killed nearly 160 people last month.

In recent days, authorities have distributed aid to survivors, arrested suspects and worked to improve building safety as some Hong Kongers raise questions about the incident.

A total of 161 candidates are vying for 90 seats in LegCo, which acts as a mini-parliament to make and amend laws.

This election is the second since 2021 when China made major changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system to allow only “patriots” to run for seats.

China says the changes, implemented soon after protests in 2019, are necessary to ensure stability in Hong Kong, but critics say they have undermined democracy.

In the last public opinion poll conducted immediately after these changes, voter indifference was widespread and voter turnout hit an all-time low of 30%.

This year, the government put up posters around the city urging Hong Kongers to head to the polls and offered free products and shopping discounts.

After voting, each person will receive a “Thank You Card” that can be exchanged for vouchers, beauty services, health screenings and insurance premiums at specific stores and restaurants.

Authorities are also providing free admission to public swimming pools and museums on voting days, organizing carnivals in various locations, and holding televised variety shows and galas.

They also adapted Cantopop star Aaron Kwok’s 2001 hit “Let’s Vote, Together We Create The Future” to create a cartoon mascot and election theme song.

Secretary-General Eric Chan told reporters last month that the measures were aimed at ensuring a “happy and festive atmosphere” and “making residents aware of the importance of the election.”

But in recent days the city has focused on the fire that swept through a high-rise residential complex in Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po North district on November 26.

This fire was the worst fire in Hong Kong in 70 years. The death toll is now at 159, and is likely to rise as authorities continue to recover bodies.

As Hong Kong mourns the deaths, some are asking whether the fire could have been prevented and questioning building safety standards. Many Hong Kongers live in older high-rise buildings similar to Wang Fuk Court.

Authorities later ordered an independent commission to investigate the cause of the fire and arrested 13 people on suspicion of murder.

They also ordered the removal of scaffolding mesh used in all building renovations across the city. Investigators found that the scaffolding mesh used in the Wang Fuk Court remodel did not meet fire-retardant standards, and that the mesh and other combustible materials on the exterior of the building caused the fire to spread quickly.

Authorities also moved quickly to suppress dissent. Police reportedly detained a man on Saturday on suspicion of rioting, who was part of a group petitioning for an independent investigation. The petition was also deleted from the internet.

Two people, including a former district council member, were also taken into police custody.

Political campaigning for the LegCo elections was halted immediately after the fire, but government-hosted discussion forums resumed a few days later. A carnival organized for the election campaign was also canceled.

Hong Kong CEO John Lee insisted that the LegCo elections continue as planned, saying, “We must move forward before we turn grief into strength.”

He said the new lawmakers would be able to quickly support reconstruction and reform.

John P Burns, a professor emeritus at the University of Hong Kong and an expert on Chinese politics, said the government would interpret high voter turnout as a sign that voters perceived Hong Kong’s revamped political system as “relatively legitimate.”

However, he expected the numbers to be low, in part due to the Tai Po fire.

He pointed out that most Hong Kongers have traditionally supported the pan-democratic opposition party, but were effectively barred from participating. “Just as I stayed away for most of 2021, I don’t think I’ll be sure of my participation this time either,” he said.

He added that it would be difficult for the government to mobilize pro-government voters after the fire.

Some people in the camp will be impressed by the speed with which authorities have rehoused those who lost their homes in the fire and the way relief authorities have provided relief, Professor Burns said. “If anything, it was quick and relatively generous.”

But others may “walk away from the polls” because they are “disappointed and even angry about the governance problems exposed by the fires,” he said.

This week, Hong Kong’s National Security Bureau republished comments from pro-Beijing media outlets urging residents to vote to show support for the government’s reconstruction efforts.

“Building a good future together begins with this vote. If you truly love Hong Kong, you must vote with your heart,” the commentary said.

This year’s LegCo elections will see a number of new faces emerge, with about a quarter of current members of parliament resigning.

Local media reported that the Chinese government had pressured several lawmakers to retire, having unofficially set an age limit.

Many of those resigning are over 70, including prominent politician Regina Yip, a former security chief nicknamed the “Iron Lady.”