The Electoral Affairs Commission Suggested Giving Priority to Elderly and Pregnant Voters
The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) is holding a one-month long public consultation on whether Presiding Officers are allowed to give priority to elderly, pregnant and disabled voters to vote first.
Voters can also be allowed to see whether their names are crossed out when they obtain their ballot papers in other to ensure its transprency.
The EAC is also proposing to limit the number of people who are allowed to watch the counting process. Observers should have their names and ID cards registered. They stated that some citizens caused nuisance and unnecessary pressure to staff during vote-counting process in the previous District Council Election.
Source: Now News #Mar9
#LegislativeCouncilElection #HongKongElection
The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) is holding a one-month long public consultation on whether Presiding Officers are allowed to give priority to elderly, pregnant and disabled voters to vote first.
Voters can also be allowed to see whether their names are crossed out when they obtain their ballot papers in other to ensure its transprency.
The EAC is also proposing to limit the number of people who are allowed to watch the counting process. Observers should have their names and ID cards registered. They stated that some citizens caused nuisance and unnecessary pressure to staff during vote-counting process in the previous District Council Election.
Source: Now News #Mar9
#LegislativeCouncilElection #HongKongElection
#HongKongElection
Electoral Office ignored complain on suspected vote rigging
A post about suspected vote rigging has been circulating on the internet. A citizen received a voter registration confirmation letter for a stranger under his address. He immediately brought the letter to the Registration and Electoral Office requesting them to disqualify that voter.
The officers only made verbal promises that they will “look into it”, and returned all supported documents he brought. When being asked for a case file for future reference, the officers said, there will not be any case file since they did not collect any documents from the citizen who complaint, and left the scene.
The citizen was skeptical if the staff would actually look into his case, and expressed his concern over the officers’ ignorance which might increase the chance of vote rigging. There is also no way for him to find out if the voter is being disqualified due to the lack of information provided in the confirmation letter.
Source: FB
Electoral Office ignored complain on suspected vote rigging
A post about suspected vote rigging has been circulating on the internet. A citizen received a voter registration confirmation letter for a stranger under his address. He immediately brought the letter to the Registration and Electoral Office requesting them to disqualify that voter.
The officers only made verbal promises that they will “look into it”, and returned all supported documents he brought. When being asked for a case file for future reference, the officers said, there will not be any case file since they did not collect any documents from the citizen who complaint, and left the scene.
The citizen was skeptical if the staff would actually look into his case, and expressed his concern over the officers’ ignorance which might increase the chance of vote rigging. There is also no way for him to find out if the voter is being disqualified due to the lack of information provided in the confirmation letter.
Source: FB
IPAC denounced HK government for disqualifying pro-democracy candidates in the upcoming election
On 30 June, 12 Pro-democracy candidates in LegCo Election 2020 (which was later announced to be delayed for a year) were disqualified by the Hong Kong Electoral Affairs Commission. These 12 candidates collectively obtained tens of thousands of votes in the pro-democracy primaries.
68 legislators from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) signed the statement condemning the decision as 'unacceptable obstructions of the democratic process in Hong Kong'. These international legislators also urged the international community to respond proportionately with respect to the diminishing rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.
The IPAC aims at enhancing coordination between govenments and urges them to respond accordingly to challenges posed by China. The Alliance previously also spoke out against issues on Uyghurs, Falun Gong, and the Hong Kong National Security Law.
Source:
https://twitter.com/ipacglobal/status/1288806722979745794?s=09
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/cantonese/zh-hant/twelve-pro-democracy-figures-barred-from-legco-poll
#IPAC #HongKongElection
#DQ #ProdemocracyFigures
#LegcoPoll #China
On 30 June, 12 Pro-democracy candidates in LegCo Election 2020 (which was later announced to be delayed for a year) were disqualified by the Hong Kong Electoral Affairs Commission. These 12 candidates collectively obtained tens of thousands of votes in the pro-democracy primaries.
68 legislators from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) signed the statement condemning the decision as 'unacceptable obstructions of the democratic process in Hong Kong'. These international legislators also urged the international community to respond proportionately with respect to the diminishing rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.
The IPAC aims at enhancing coordination between govenments and urges them to respond accordingly to challenges posed by China. The Alliance previously also spoke out against issues on Uyghurs, Falun Gong, and the Hong Kong National Security Law.
Source:
https://twitter.com/ipacglobal/status/1288806722979745794?s=09
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/cantonese/zh-hant/twelve-pro-democracy-figures-barred-from-legco-poll
#IPAC #HongKongElection
#DQ #ProdemocracyFigures
#LegcoPoll #China
Twitter
Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China
BREAKING: #IPAC statement on the obstruction of the democratic process in #HongKong
Exclusive: China plans further Hong Kong crackdown after mass arrest - sources
Two individuals with direct knowledge of China’s plans said the mass arrests in 2021 were part of a wave of ongoing actions to silence activists and to “make sure Hong Kong doesn’t slide back to what we saw 18 months ago”.
He said that Chinese officials were now discussing ways to change the electoral system to address “deficiencies” in the political structure and elections might be further delayed. Beijing remained concerned the opposition could still muster a majority in the legislature.
Among the next steps, authorities could focus on disqualifying hundreds of democratic “district councillors”; entrenching loyalty to China within the civil service; squeezing businesses whose bosses explicitly support the democratic cause and creeping censorship of the internet and media under the auspices of national security.
Source: Reuters #Jan12
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-democracy-idUSKBN29H0E8
#ChinacrackdownHongKong #HongKongElection
Two individuals with direct knowledge of China’s plans said the mass arrests in 2021 were part of a wave of ongoing actions to silence activists and to “make sure Hong Kong doesn’t slide back to what we saw 18 months ago”.
He said that Chinese officials were now discussing ways to change the electoral system to address “deficiencies” in the political structure and elections might be further delayed. Beijing remained concerned the opposition could still muster a majority in the legislature.
Among the next steps, authorities could focus on disqualifying hundreds of democratic “district councillors”; entrenching loyalty to China within the civil service; squeezing businesses whose bosses explicitly support the democratic cause and creeping censorship of the internet and media under the auspices of national security.
Source: Reuters #Jan12
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-democracy-idUSKBN29H0E8
#ChinacrackdownHongKong #HongKongElection
U.S.
Exclusive: China plans further Hong Kong crackdown after mass arrest - sources
The arrest of more than 50 democrats in Hong Kong last week intensifies a drive by Beijing to stifle any return of a populist challenge to Chinese rule and more measures are likely, according to two individuals with direct knowledge of China's plans.
Hong Kong plans to make politicians swear oath of loyalty to Beijing
Hong Kong’s government has announced electoral changes requiring office-holders to pledge and maintain an oath of loyalty to Hong Kong and Beijing, or face disqualification and a five-year ban on running for re-election.
The announcement came a day after a top Beijing official signalled that the significant changes would be coming to ensure Hong Kong was run by “patriots”. It is a clear sign that China intends to no longer tolerate dissenting voices after taking over Hong Kong only 23 years.
Government critics and western leaders have accused Beijing of going back on its word and effectively ending the “one country, two systems” framework for governing the financial hub.
Source: The Guardian #Feb23
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/23/hong-kong-plans-to-make-politicians-swear-oath-of-loyalty-to-beijing?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#HongKong #HongKongElection #China #DeathOfOneCountryTwoSystems
Hong Kong’s government has announced electoral changes requiring office-holders to pledge and maintain an oath of loyalty to Hong Kong and Beijing, or face disqualification and a five-year ban on running for re-election.
The announcement came a day after a top Beijing official signalled that the significant changes would be coming to ensure Hong Kong was run by “patriots”. It is a clear sign that China intends to no longer tolerate dissenting voices after taking over Hong Kong only 23 years.
Government critics and western leaders have accused Beijing of going back on its word and effectively ending the “one country, two systems” framework for governing the financial hub.
Source: The Guardian #Feb23
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/23/hong-kong-plans-to-make-politicians-swear-oath-of-loyalty-to-beijing?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#HongKong #HongKongElection #China #DeathOfOneCountryTwoSystems
#PoliticalSuppression #1C1S
China Axes Hong Kong's Electoral System to Boost Influence
Watch video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29261
On March 30, 2021, Beijing imposed an overhaul in Hong Kong's electoral system. After a two-day meeting, the PRC's National People’s Congress Standing Committee (#NPCSC) directly amended two annexes in Hong Kong's Basic Law. All these changes will come into immediate effect on March 31, 2021.
In the Election Committee to select the Chief Executive, all 117 district councillor seats are eliminated.
The seats are replaced by “representatives of members of area committees”, including members of the government-appointed District Fight Crime Committees, the District Fire Safety Committee of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, as well as representatives of associations of Hong Kong residents in the mainland.
A new sector will be added. They are deputies to the PRC's National People’s Congress (#NPC), the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (#CPPCC), as well as representatives of “Hong Kong members of relevant national organisations”.
As for the Legislative Council (#LegCo), the number of directly elected seats in the geographical constituency will be reduced. The District Councillor seats within the LegCo are to be removed.
The changes are likely to increase the influence of the pro-Establishment camp while ridding of the role of the locally elected District Councillors.
The District Council election had been the only direct election in Hong Kong since the Handover in 1997. In the 2019 election, the pro-democracy camp had a landslide victory across the territory, winning 388 seats to the pro-Beijing camp's 59.
Source: Stand News #Mar30
#HongKongElection #ChiefExecutive #DistrictCouncil #CCPRules
#ElectoralOverhaul #Beijing
China Axes Hong Kong's Electoral System to Boost Influence
Watch video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29261
On March 30, 2021, Beijing imposed an overhaul in Hong Kong's electoral system. After a two-day meeting, the PRC's National People’s Congress Standing Committee (#NPCSC) directly amended two annexes in Hong Kong's Basic Law. All these changes will come into immediate effect on March 31, 2021.
In the Election Committee to select the Chief Executive, all 117 district councillor seats are eliminated.
The seats are replaced by “representatives of members of area committees”, including members of the government-appointed District Fight Crime Committees, the District Fire Safety Committee of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, as well as representatives of associations of Hong Kong residents in the mainland.
A new sector will be added. They are deputies to the PRC's National People’s Congress (#NPC), the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (#CPPCC), as well as representatives of “Hong Kong members of relevant national organisations”.
As for the Legislative Council (#LegCo), the number of directly elected seats in the geographical constituency will be reduced. The District Councillor seats within the LegCo are to be removed.
The changes are likely to increase the influence of the pro-Establishment camp while ridding of the role of the locally elected District Councillors.
The District Council election had been the only direct election in Hong Kong since the Handover in 1997. In the 2019 election, the pro-democracy camp had a landslide victory across the territory, winning 388 seats to the pro-Beijing camp's 59.
Source: Stand News #Mar30
#HongKongElection #ChiefExecutive #DistrictCouncil #CCPRules
#ElectoralOverhaul #Beijing
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PoliticalSuppression #1C1S
China Axes Hong Kong's Electoral System to Boost Influence
Source: Stand News #Mar30
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29262
China Axes Hong Kong's Electoral System to Boost Influence
Source: Stand News #Mar30
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29262
Only 'true patriots' need apply: Beijing's tough new laws turn Hong Kong's elections into selections
Beijing's new election rules give the central government sweeping powers to eliminate those considered disloyal and tip votes in the CCP’s favour even before a single ballot is cast.
The new electoral system slashes democratic representation in Hong Kong's local legislature by sharply cutting the number and proportion of seats directly chosen by voters. It also gives greater power to appointed political bodies loyal to China's central government.
"All our freedoms faded [at] a drastic speed that none of us could have expected," Law said in a Skype interview with CBC News from London, where he now lives. He counted off the rights lost on his fingers: "freedom of speech, of association and assembly, and now elections, all gone."
Source: CBC #Apr03
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/only-true-patriots-need-apply-beijing-s-tough-new-laws-turn-hong-kong-s-elections-into-selections-1.5973931
#HongKong #HKLegCo #HongKongElection #Politics
Beijing's new election rules give the central government sweeping powers to eliminate those considered disloyal and tip votes in the CCP’s favour even before a single ballot is cast.
The new electoral system slashes democratic representation in Hong Kong's local legislature by sharply cutting the number and proportion of seats directly chosen by voters. It also gives greater power to appointed political bodies loyal to China's central government.
"All our freedoms faded [at] a drastic speed that none of us could have expected," Law said in a Skype interview with CBC News from London, where he now lives. He counted off the rights lost on his fingers: "freedom of speech, of association and assembly, and now elections, all gone."
Source: CBC #Apr03
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/only-true-patriots-need-apply-beijing-s-tough-new-laws-turn-hong-kong-s-elections-into-selections-1.5973931
#HongKong #HKLegCo #HongKongElection #Politics
CBC
Only 'true patriots' need apply: Beijing's tough new laws turn Hong Kong's elections into selections | CBC News
Beijing’s new election rules give the central government sweeping powers to eliminate those considered disloyal. Even so, this week’s crackdown on democratic rights still shocked those who opposed the measures.
#LegCo #Election
HK Government Orders #CivilServants to Assist in Electoral Office
In Hong Kong, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen sent a letter to all civil servants, saying that he had ordered the head of all government departments to assign civil servants to serve as electoral staff at poll stations in the upcoming Legislative Council (LegCo) election.
He added that civil servants are the "backbone of the government" and it is also their duty to make sure the election will be staged smoothly.
It was estimated that a total of 36,000 staff will be necessary on the election day.
Those assigned as electoral staff will face disciplinary actions if they fail to perform their duties or fail to report to the polling stations.
In the past, the administration has never made it mandatory for civil servants to assist in election routine.
Source: Stand News; #Oct29 https://thestandnews.page.link/fuL1JBWdMM43ANZc8
#FailedState #Regime #ElectoralOffice #LegCoElection #HongKongElection #PatrickNip
HK Government Orders #CivilServants to Assist in Electoral Office
In Hong Kong, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen sent a letter to all civil servants, saying that he had ordered the head of all government departments to assign civil servants to serve as electoral staff at poll stations in the upcoming Legislative Council (LegCo) election.
He added that civil servants are the "backbone of the government" and it is also their duty to make sure the election will be staged smoothly.
It was estimated that a total of 36,000 staff will be necessary on the election day.
Those assigned as electoral staff will face disciplinary actions if they fail to perform their duties or fail to report to the polling stations.
In the past, the administration has never made it mandatory for civil servants to assist in election routine.
Source: Stand News; #Oct29 https://thestandnews.page.link/fuL1JBWdMM43ANZc8
#FailedState #Regime #ElectoralOffice #LegCoElection #HongKongElection #PatrickNip
#LegCoElection
DQ'd, Jailed, Exiled: the Fate of 31 Elected Pro-Democracy Members of 2016 Legislative Council
After a year-long delay, and after China has "perfected" Hong Kong's electoral system, the Legislative Council (Legco) election finally took place on December 19, 2021.
Unlike the past, traditional pro-democracy parties such as Democratic Party, Civic Party, and Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood are all absent from this election. Taking their place in running is a few lesser known, self-professed "non-establishment" candidates.
The previous Legco Election took place in 2016, in which over 2.2 million voters elected 35 legislators from the geographic constituencies, the only part of the legislature which is generated by direct election.
Taking by-elections into account, 31 pro-democracy legislators have been voted into office in 2016. However, these elected representatives can no longer serve as the voice of the people in the halls of the Legislature.
Of the 31, 4 have emigrated from Hong Kong or have left in exile. 14 are in custody or are serving prison sentences, while 5 have been released on bail. The remaining 10 have stepped back from politics.
The oath taking controversy in 2016-2017 saw six legislators disqualified ("DQ") and removed from office, as a result of China's National People's Congress reinterpreting the requirements in Hong Kong's Basic Law after the legislators have already taken their oaths.
Following the 2019 #AntiELAB movement, the pro-democracy camp initiated a primary election in a bid to secure over half of the seats in Legislature in the election originally scheduled for 2020. 610,000 voters cast their votes in the primaries which saw candidates from across the full spectrum of the democratic camp participate. 18 of them had been sitting members of the 2016 Legco.
However, the primary election was accused by the authorities to be a "plot to paralyze the government", and the police arrested 55 people associated to the primaries under the #NationalSecurityLaw. This includes 16 of the aforementioned 18 sitting Legco members; the remaining two, #NathanLaw and #TedHui, have left Hong Kong in exile.
Source: Stand News #Dec18
https://thestandnews.page.link/Tmr7PZVS2TohiCqWA
#PoliticalProsecution #DQ #HongKongElection #CCPStyle
#Regime #PoliceState #Arrest
===
Related News:
How Hongkongers Respond to "Patriots-Only" #Election
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31663
"Don't Vote" Banner Spotted on Lion Rock Mt. in Hong Kong
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31667
"Patriots-Only" #LegCoElection Causes Lowest Turnout in Hong Kong History: 3.12 Million Hongkongers Cast #NoVote
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31665
DQ'd, Jailed, Exiled: the Fate of 31 Elected Pro-Democracy Members of 2016 Legislative Council
After a year-long delay, and after China has "perfected" Hong Kong's electoral system, the Legislative Council (Legco) election finally took place on December 19, 2021.
Unlike the past, traditional pro-democracy parties such as Democratic Party, Civic Party, and Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood are all absent from this election. Taking their place in running is a few lesser known, self-professed "non-establishment" candidates.
The previous Legco Election took place in 2016, in which over 2.2 million voters elected 35 legislators from the geographic constituencies, the only part of the legislature which is generated by direct election.
Taking by-elections into account, 31 pro-democracy legislators have been voted into office in 2016. However, these elected representatives can no longer serve as the voice of the people in the halls of the Legislature.
Of the 31, 4 have emigrated from Hong Kong or have left in exile. 14 are in custody or are serving prison sentences, while 5 have been released on bail. The remaining 10 have stepped back from politics.
The oath taking controversy in 2016-2017 saw six legislators disqualified ("DQ") and removed from office, as a result of China's National People's Congress reinterpreting the requirements in Hong Kong's Basic Law after the legislators have already taken their oaths.
Following the 2019 #AntiELAB movement, the pro-democracy camp initiated a primary election in a bid to secure over half of the seats in Legislature in the election originally scheduled for 2020. 610,000 voters cast their votes in the primaries which saw candidates from across the full spectrum of the democratic camp participate. 18 of them had been sitting members of the 2016 Legco.
However, the primary election was accused by the authorities to be a "plot to paralyze the government", and the police arrested 55 people associated to the primaries under the #NationalSecurityLaw. This includes 16 of the aforementioned 18 sitting Legco members; the remaining two, #NathanLaw and #TedHui, have left Hong Kong in exile.
Source: Stand News #Dec18
https://thestandnews.page.link/Tmr7PZVS2TohiCqWA
#PoliticalProsecution #DQ #HongKongElection #CCPStyle
#Regime #PoliceState #Arrest
===
Related News:
How Hongkongers Respond to "Patriots-Only" #Election
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31663
"Don't Vote" Banner Spotted on Lion Rock Mt. in Hong Kong
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31667
"Patriots-Only" #LegCoElection Causes Lowest Turnout in Hong Kong History: 3.12 Million Hongkongers Cast #NoVote
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31665
Business connections of #JohnLee’s sons with CE electors revealed
//A #Factwire investigation reveals that the two sons of John Lee, the Chief Executive candidate likely to be running unopposed this year, both have connections with members of the current #ChiefExecutiveElection Committee in the business field, although John Lee’s team said he has not been involved in these connections.
John Lee’s older son, Gilbert Lee, is a senior executive at Hang Seng Bank, whose direct superior, Diana Cesar, is the bank’s chief and a finance subsector member of the Election Committee. Gilbert Lee was awarded a position in a government panel last year, soon after his father became the Chief Secretary for Administration.
Lee’s younger son Jacky Lee is a business partner of Li Sing-tui, a member of the Election Committee and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (#CPPCC). Together, they own and operate a kindergarten in Dongguan that costs over HKD 70,000 a year to attend.//
Read full article:
https://www.factwire.org/en/business-connections-of-john-lees-sons-with-ce-electors-revealed/
Source: Factwire #Apr15
#CCPRules #HongKongElection
//A #Factwire investigation reveals that the two sons of John Lee, the Chief Executive candidate likely to be running unopposed this year, both have connections with members of the current #ChiefExecutiveElection Committee in the business field, although John Lee’s team said he has not been involved in these connections.
John Lee’s older son, Gilbert Lee, is a senior executive at Hang Seng Bank, whose direct superior, Diana Cesar, is the bank’s chief and a finance subsector member of the Election Committee. Gilbert Lee was awarded a position in a government panel last year, soon after his father became the Chief Secretary for Administration.
Lee’s younger son Jacky Lee is a business partner of Li Sing-tui, a member of the Election Committee and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (#CPPCC). Together, they own and operate a kindergarten in Dongguan that costs over HKD 70,000 a year to attend.//
Read full article:
https://www.factwire.org/en/business-connections-of-john-lees-sons-with-ce-electors-revealed/
Source: Factwire #Apr15
#CCPRules #HongKongElection
FactWire News Agency 傳真社
Business connections of John Lee’s sons with CE electors revealed - FactWire News Agency 傳真社
A Factwire investigation reveals that the two sons of John Lee, the Chief Executive candidate likely to be running unopposed this year, both have connections with members of the current Chief Executive Election Committee in the business field, although John…