Democracy News

Hong Kong Legislators Hold ‘Referendum on Democracy’
May 26, 2010
By: Benjamin Russell | Printer Friendly

Five pro-democracy members of Hong Kong’s legislative body won reelection last week in a special “by-election,” which was presented as a referendum on democracy in the city, according to BBC News.

The candidates, representing two of Hong Kong’s five pro-democracy parties, triggered the election by resigning their seats in January.  Attempting to engage their rivals in a debate over the case for fuller democratic governance in Hong Kong, their goals were undermined by low voter turnout and a boycott by pro-Chinese parties.  Just 17.1 percent of eligible voters turned out for the election, as the five legislators easily took back their seats. 

The Chinese government, which governs Hong Kong as a “special administrative area”, was critical of the elections, saying the “so-called referendums [were] a direct challenge to Chinese authority over the former British colony.”  Hong Kong’s government was also critical of the elections, saying they were a waste of taxpayers’ money.

According to the New York Times, “the Hong Kong government is drafting legislation to adjust electoral procedures in 2012 in ways that may provide some increase in popular participation; it also has promised more democratic procedures for the election of the chief executive in 2017 and the legislature in 2020. Democracy advocates have said that the plans for 2012 do not go far enough.”

Sources:

BBC News – Hong Kong ‘Democracy’ By-election Held

Washington Post – Pro-democracy Candidates Win Hong Kong Special Election

New York Times – Hong Kong Voting Light