District council election results show dissatisfaction: Lam

2019-11-26 05:42:46 source: Global Times


Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam addresses a press conference on Oct. 15, 2019. Photo: Xinhua/Lv Xiaowei

  

Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the authority has overcome significant difficulties to ensure district council elections were held smoothly amid months of social unrest in the city.

  

The elections were completed smoothly as the regional government is committed to upholding "one country, two systems" and protecting human rights and freedom under the Basic Law, Lam noted.

  

"The nature of the elections is simply to elect district council members to serve the 18 district councils, and it's neither for the government nor for me to give another interpretation," Lam said in response to media reports that deemed the election as a "de facto referendum for Hong Kong people," considering the record high of voter turnout.

  

Polling stations closed at 10:30 pm on Sunday and according to the official data, voter turnout was 71.2 percent of the 4.1 million registered voters, compared to a 47 percent turnout in the 2015 polls. The previous record high was 58 percent in the 2016 Legislative Council elections.

  

A large number of voters not only selected their preferred candidate to sit on the district council but also voted to express their view on many social issues, the chief executive said.  The result reflects dissatisfaction with the HKSAR government, Lam said.

  

Reuters reported on Tuesday that the central government is considering replacing the chief of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, following months of social unrest.

  

Lam said during the press conference on Tuesday that she has not received any instructions from the central government on who will be held accountable for the election results.


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Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam addresses a press conference on Oct. 15, 2019. Photo: Xinhua/Lv Xiaowei

  

Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the authority has overcome significant difficulties to ensure district council elections were held smoothly amid months of social unrest in the city.

  

The elections were completed smoothly as the regional government is committed to upholding "one country, two systems" and protecting human rights and freedom under the Basic Law, Lam noted.

  

"The nature of the elections is simply to elect district council members to serve the 18 district councils, and it's neither for the government nor for me to give another interpretation," Lam said in response to media reports that deemed the election as a "de facto referendum for Hong Kong people," considering the record high of voter turnout.

  

Polling stations closed at 10:30 pm on Sunday and according to the official data, voter turnout was 71.2 percent of the 4.1 million registered voters, compared to a 47 percent turnout in the 2015 polls. The previous record high was 58 percent in the 2016 Legislative Council elections.

  

A large number of voters not only selected their preferred candidate to sit on the district council but also voted to express their view on many social issues, the chief executive said.  The result reflects dissatisfaction with the HKSAR government, Lam said.

  

Reuters reported on Tuesday that the central government is considering replacing the chief of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, following months of social unrest.

  

Lam said during the press conference on Tuesday that she has not received any instructions from the central government on who will be held accountable for the election results.


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