Having all seats contested in Sunday’s Legislative Council election and the resulting strong performance by independent candidates signal emerging political diversity within Hong Kong’s reformed electoral system, political analysts have said.
However, a record number of invalid ballots cast suggested continued resistance to the “patriots-only” framework, they noted, urging the government to also take heed and ensure this would not be used to pile pressure on it in future.
Observers also pointed to how Beijing had assessed the election to be a milestone in “Hong Kong’s high-quality democracy”, as they read into the term the central government’s preference for policy-focused governance over political confrontation and moving away from the past.
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“The election reveals diverse political currents within the patriot camp, with traditional party dominance giving way to a more varied political landscape,” said Sonny Lo Shiu-hing, honorary professor of politics at the University of Hong Kong.
“And those are to the benefit of Hong Kong as the city would welcome more diversified voices in city governance.”
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The election on Sunday marked the second vote since Beijing reformed Hong Kong’s electoral system to ensure only “patriots” who must be pre-approved can run for political office.