Sawt Falasteen - Second-lowest turnout ever for HK legislative election

Beijing revamped Hong Kong's electoral system in 2021 following the city's huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests, and the first contest under those rules later that year saw a record low turnout of 30.2 percent.

This time, the figure was 31.9 percent, according to figures published online early Monday by the Registration and Electoral Office.

Sunday's race actually saw slightly fewer people casting their ballots -- just 1.3 million out of 4.1 million registered voters -- but the turnout percentage was higher due to a smaller overall voting population.

Authorities were set to declare winners overnight at the city's Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Elections for Hong Kong's legislature used to involve boisterous clashes between pro-Beijing and pro-democracy camps, with the latter often winning around 60 percent of the popular vote.

But Beijing overhauled Hong Kong's electoral system in 2021 to ensure only "patriots" could hold office, and slashed the number of directly elected seats to 20 out of 90.

Sunday's race featured 161 government-vetted candidates, and was once again devoid of the two largest pro-democracy parties: the Civic Party disbanded in 2023 and the Democratic Party, which is winding down.

Around a third of the outgoing cohort of lawmakers, including veterans such as Regina Ip and legislature president Andrew Leung, are not seeking another four-year term.

- Memorial for fire victims cleared -

Political campaigning was interrupted in late November after a blaze tore through the housing blocks of Wang Fuk Court in northern Hong Kong, killing at least 159 people.

At a small park nearby that became a makeshift memorial site, volunteers and government-arranged cleaners on Sunday night removed thousands of flower bouquets and notes of remembrance that had accumulated since the deadly blaze.

Police earlier warned that the scene had parallels to the 2019 pro-democracy protests, underscoring the heightened political sensitivities of collective mourning.

A police officer at the scene told AFP that an operation was being held to "return (the park) to normal".

- 'Held responsible' -

One woman whose home was destroyed said Sunday the fire must be "thoroughly investigated", adding that the next batch of lawmakers "should monitor the government".

"Whoever is at fault must be held responsible," the woman, who only gave her surname Poon, told AFP outside the polling station closest to the charred buildings.

Kitty Lau, a woman in her 60s who witnessed the fire from her home, said she was still grieving, adding that the government needed to listen to diverse voices in the tragedy's aftermath.

"Some of the voices from opposition factions, as long as they love the country and love Hong Kong, should be given an opportunity to speak," Lau told AFP.

At the start of the day, Hong Kong leader John Lee urged residents to head to the polls.

"(Your) vote represents a vote that pushes forward reform, and a vote to protect those affected by the disaster," Lee told reporters after casting his ballot.

As of Sunday, Hong Kong's anti-corruption watchdog had arrested 11 people for telling others not to vote or to cast invalid ballots.

The government will propose a bill at the first meeting of the new Legislative Council to discuss relief and rebuilding efforts.

Lee has announced that a judge-led "independent committee" will investigate the fire, which devastated seven apartment blocks undergoing renovations.

- Fire-related arrests -

Police have arrested at least 15 people from various construction companies as part of their probe into the fire.

Authorities have also warned against crimes that "exploit the tragedy" and have reportedly arrested at least three people for sedition in the fire's aftermath.

Police on Saturday did confirm the arrest of a 71-year-old man, for "prejudicing a national security investigation" -- the first such arrest in Hong Kong -- as well as for sedition.

China's national security agency in Hong Kong summoned representatives from international media, including AFP, for a meeting on Saturday to warn them not to "cross the legal red line" in their election and fire coverage.

E.Aziz--SF-PST