Opposition Barred From Hong Kong Elections After Electoral Changes

Updates to Hong Kong's electoral rules have barred almost all pro-democracy candidates from running for office.

Transcript

00:00 It's election year in Hong Kong, a time when District Councillor Winnie Poon should

00:07 be in the middle of a campaign.

00:09 Instead, she is organizing a farewell party.

00:14 Poon made history as the first elected female council member in one of Hong Kong's largest

00:18 districts.

00:20 But after 38 years, she is no longer interested in the job.

00:24 She points to Hong Kong's new electoral rules.

00:27 "The government proposed it, and we followed suit.

00:32 I don't have the energy or interest to play this game anymore."

00:39 The last election for the District Council was held in 2019.

00:43 But in 2023, the electoral rules are drastically different.

00:48 They were overhauled earlier this year by Beijing-appointed officials.

00:52 The number of directly elected seats has been slashed from 452 to just 88.

00:59 The rest are appointed by the government or selected by other authorities.

01:06 For candidates to get on the ballot, they need nominations from nine members of government-appointed

01:11 committees.

01:12 Which means candidates without Beijing's approval have largely been shut out.

01:17 "They say, 'No, they are very democratic.

01:20 They have to be elected.

01:22 They have to be elected, both directly and by-election.

01:24 Except for the appointment of a new member.

01:26 If you think it's OK, I hope the people who are elected will remember their goal,

01:35 their original intention.

01:37 Their original intention is to serve the people."

01:43 Beijing's grip on Hong Kong has tightened since 2019, when millions marched in pro-democracy

01:49 protest.

01:50 The crackdown included a national security law, severely limiting rights to free speech

01:55 and assembly.

01:57 Dozens of pro-democracy leaders, activists and journalists have fled or are now imprisoned.

02:03 And political opposition has been virtually eliminated.

02:07 Those in power hope higher voter turnout will show public support for the new political

02:11 order.

02:12 "Come out and vote.

02:14 We will try to make everybody appreciate and enjoy the success of district council

02:21 elections."

02:22 For the first time in four decades, almost all pro-democracy candidates are barred from

02:30 Hong Kong's elections.

02:32 For voters, nothing but Beijing's looming influence is left on the ballot.

02:37 Dolphine Chen and Harrell Hughes for Taiwan Plus.

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