The constituency encompassing the housing complex destroyed in one of Hong Kong’s deadliest fires recorded the lowest turnout rate across the city in the Legislative Council election according to an estimate just hours before polls closed, but those who showed up vowed to vote for a representative who would truly help the displaced residents.
Several voters also directed their anger at the city’s largest party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), after one of its district councillors was found to have advised the owners’ corporation of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on its renovation project.
Others said they were still giving incumbents a chance to prove their loyalty to residents.
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DAB chairman Gary Chan Hak-kan is battling to retain his seat as is Dominic Lee Tsz-king of the New People’s Party. They are facing off against three newcomers.
As of 10.30pm, 132,359 constituents of New Territories North East had voted, for a turnout rate of 29.72 per cent. The constituency covers Tai Po district and part of Sha Tin district.
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The turnout rate was the lowest across the 10 directly elected geographical constituencies and was 1.71 percentage points below the citywide average, although the rate marked a 0.83 percentage point increase over the one recorded at the same time during the 2021 poll.