HONG KONG – The opposition camp in Hong Kong set up polling booths in the city on Saturday for primary elections to select democracy candidates to contest the Legislative Council elections in September.
The primary election comes less than two weeks after Beijing imposed a new national security law on the financial hub raising concerns that freedoms will be curbed.
On the eve of the election, police searched the office of independent pollster Robert Chung, whose Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) helps organise the poll. This has raised concerns among activists of state interference in the election.
“The primary election is our first time to let Beijing know Hong Kongers never bow down to China,” said pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong.
“We urge the world to put Hong Kong under the global spotlight.”
Observers are closely watching the poll, which they believe will be the litmus test of opposition to the new law.
The election is a bid to boost the chances of democracy candidates to get a 35-plus majority in the 70-seat legislature so that they can block government proposals.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
