Hong Kong votes in election as city mourns deadly fire

Hong Kong residents are casting their votes in an election seen as a test of public sentiment in the wake of a deadly fire that has angered some in the city.

The government has launched a massive campaign to encourage Hong Kong residents to choose members of the Legislative Council (LegCo). All candidates have been vetted to ensure their loyalty to China.

The elections are being held at a time when many are mourning the Tai Po fire last month that claimed the lives of nearly 160 people.

In recent days, authorities distributed aid to survivors, arrested suspects, and sought to improve building safety, as some Hong Kong residents raised questions about the incident.

161 candidates are competing for 90 seats in the Legislative Council, which acts as a mini-parliament and can enact and amend laws.

These elections are the second since 2021, when China made sweeping changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system to ensure that only “patriots” have the right to run for seats.

Beijing said the changes, implemented shortly after the 2019 protests, were necessary to ensure stability in Hong Kong, but critics say they weakened democracy.

The latest poll, conducted shortly after these changes, saw the lowest turnout ever at 30% amid widespread voter apathy.

This year, the government covered the city with posters urging Hong Kong residents to head to the polls, while offering free gifts and discounts on shopping.

After casting their vote, each person will receive a “thank you card” that can be redeemed for vouchers at selected stores and restaurants, or for beauty services, medical examinations and insurance premiums.

Authorities also offer free entry to public swimming pools and museums on polling day, organize carnivals in various neighborhoods, and hold a variety show and a televised concert.

They also created cartoon mascots and an election-themed tune, adapted from a 2001 hit song by Cantopop star Aaron Kwok, called “Let’s Vote, Together We Create the Future.”

Provincial Chief Secretary Eric Chan told reporters last month that the measures were intended to ensure a “happy and festive mood” and “allow residents to recognize the importance of the election.”

But in recent days, the city has focused on the November 26 fire that swept through high-rise residential buildings in Wang Fook Court in the northern Tai Po district.

The fire was the worst Hong Kong has seen in more than 70 years. The death toll, which currently stands at 159, is likely to rise as officials continue to recover bodies.

As Hong Kong mourns its dead, some wonder whether the fire could have been prevented and question building safety standards. Many Hong Kong residents live in old high-rise buildings that resemble Wang Fook Court.

The authorities have since ordered the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of the fire, and arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter.

They also ordered the removal of the scaffolding network used in all building renovation works across the city. Investigators found that the scaffolding mesh used for renovations at Wang Fook Court failed to meet flame retardant standards, and that the fire spread quickly because of the mesh and other flammable materials on the exterior of the buildings.

The authorities also moved quickly to suppress dissent. Police reportedly arrested a man who was part of a group demanding an independent investigation, on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. The petition has also been deleted from the Internet.

Police also arrested two other people, including a former local council member.

Political campaigning for the Legislative Council elections was immediately suspended following the fire, although government-organised discussion forums resumed a few days later. Carnivals organized for the election campaign have also been cancelled.

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, insisted that the Legislative Council elections would continue as planned, as “we must move forward before we can turn our grief into strength.”

He said the new lawmakers will be able to support reconstruction and reforms quickly.

John B. Burns, professor emeritus and Chinese politics expert at the University of Hong Kong, said he believes the government will interpret the high turnout as a sign that voters view Hong Kong’s reconfigured political system as “relatively legitimate.”

But he expected the numbers to be low, partly because of the Tai Po fire.

He noted that most Hong Kong residents traditionally support the overall democratic opposition, which has been effectively barred from participating. He said: “I think they will not be convinced to participate this time, as they were mostly absent in 2021.”

He added that mobilizing pro-establishment voters in the wake of the fire would be difficult for the government as well.

Professor Burns noted that some in this camp would be impressed by the way the authorities quickly rehoused those displaced in the fire, and by the assistance provided by the authorities, “which by all standards was relatively quick and generous.”

But others “may stay away from the polls” because they “feel disappointed, even angry, about the governance problems exposed by the fire,” he said.

This week, Hong Kong’s National Security Office reposted a comment from a pro-Beijing media outlet urging residents to vote to show support for the government’s reconstruction efforts.

“Building a good future together starts with this vote. If you really love Hong Kong, you should vote sincerely,” the caption said.

This year’s Legislative Council elections will feature a number of new faces, with about a quarter of current legislators stepping down.

Local media reported that Beijing pressured several lawmakers to retire because they had unofficially set a maximum age.

A number of those who resigned are over 70 years old, including prominent politician Regina Ibe. A former security chief nicknamed the “Iron Lady.”