Hong Kong officials eye Legco poll push with a little boost from National Games

Hong Kong will leverage the National Games to encourage residents to vote in the coming Legislative Council election, officials have said, as more companies offered workers a half day off to cast their ballots in the poll.

Speaking on Sunday at the closing ceremony of the torch relay for the Games, which the city is co-hosting this month, Hong Kong’s No 2 official, Eric Chan Kwok-ki, focused briefly on the December election.

“At this moment full of passion and mobility, I must remind everyone that the election for the Legislative Council will be held on December 7, and please remember to vote,” said Chan, acting as chief executive as city leader John Lee Ka-chiu was in South Korea for an Apec meeting.

The relay, which involved 50 torch-bearers in Hong Kong, began at the government’s headquarters in Tamar, passed the Central harbourfront and Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, before the torch crossed Victoria Harbour by ferry and ended at Kai Tak Sports Park.

The 90-minute run was held in parallel with relays in three other cities – Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Macau – with the torches to be brought to Guangzhou for the Games’ opening ceremony on November 9.

  

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