Page 4699 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 27 November 2019
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The mission visited polling places, spoke to electoral officials, candidates and average Hongkongers and observed the counting. In transit we were able to see the devastation caused to parts of Hong Kong city by months of protest and escalating violence: the broken infrastructure, the deserted campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the litter, the piles of bricks, the makeshift barriers of cafeteria chairs, the graffiti, the damage caused by protesters’ Molotov cocktails, and the more than 10,000 tear gas canisters launched by the police.
The mission’s overall assessment was:
The election was smooth-running, peaceful and orderly, notwithstanding the current socio-political climate.
The mission made specific recommendations to uphold the freedom of speech, assess the feasibility for an independent electoral body, protect candidates, review and clarify the role of observers, regulate the discretionary powers of officers presiding over polling stations, minimise the waiting and queuing time by increasing the number of polling stations, and excluding police from involvement in the mechanics of electoral processes.
The mission noted the disqualification of Mr Joshua Wong, which appeared to be an act of political censorship. It also noted that candidates from both sides were assaulted. We witnessed that uniformed and highly armed police were present inside some polling booths. Some of us witnessed intimidatory practices, like people using GoPros to monitor people’s activities, and the passing out of gifts to voters. We received many reports of such activity and evidence of roll-tampering.
The result of the election was the routing of the pro-Beijing establishment candidates such as Junius Ho, who had called protesters cockroaches and called on police to crush them. It was a landslide victory to the pro-democracy candidates, including people like Jimmy Sham, who organised the million-strong peaceful march in June; Lucifer Siu, who capitalised on his reputation as a protester; and Cathy Yau, who quit the Hong Kong police force to stand with Hongkongers.
The election for not very powerful positions has been a powerful statement by Hongkongers that they want democracy. Despite the rhetoric of the PRC and PRC-supported government, they strongly supported the protest. Jimmy Sham, who was recently beaten up—and I saw his scars on Sunday—told the media on Monday morning that the election was a de facto referendum. It leaves Hong Kong at a crossroads.
Will Hongkongers and the protest movement take the opportunity to negotiate the delivery of their five demands? Will the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, hear the strong voice of Hongkongers, or will this victory be squandered? I believe Hong Kong and the world cannot afford for this to happen.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister
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