17.1%

In an election conducted amidst a virtual media blackout, where government officials actually boycotted the democratic process, where polling stations were moved and in some cases voters had to take a 20 minute taxi ride to cast their ballot, 17.1% voter turn out is nothing to sniff at.

Where else in the world do you have political leaders proclaiming that they will not cast their vote in an election? Nowhere, because those leaders depend on the voting public to ensure their continuing rule - not in Hong Kong.

HK is run on the ostensible principal of "one country, two systems" yet we are not allowed to exercise our autonomy without first receiving approval from our misshapen cabal of mutant fuckwit masters in Beijing, otherwise known as the Politburo. It is these shadowy individuals who hand pick the territory's Chief Executive, and nominate him for an "election" in which only 320 people are allowed to participate (out of a registered electorate of 3.8 million). Further to this there is a curious tradition in HK called "functional constituencies", which are basically an opportunity for Big Business (Li Ka Shing, Kwok Bros, various other Shanghainese biased oligarchs and autocrats) to outspeak the common person with regards to affairs of state (think the US lobbying groups, but give them senate seats). While only 17% of the electorate showed up to vote, despite virtually no media warnings about the election, the majority of those that did vote were of the Post 80's generation.

This tells me two things. The first is the obvious apathy that pervades the older generation – no voting unless the DAB is providing a free lunch as well, they simply cannot be bothered. The second, however, is much more interesting – the younger generation has finally got a clue. This is what should be scaring the established order, as the current generation of leaders (both industrial and political) does not have much time left – this means, to me at least, that by the time 2047 rolls around, the political landscape in HK could be one that is, hopefully, mildly hostile to the PRC.

Now we are hearing the squabbling from both sides. The pro-beijingers are saying that because there was such a low turn out, the results don’t matter (nevermind the fact that they did everything humanly possible to avoid any turnout whatsoever), and the pro-democracy camp is claiming that they now have a mandate to push for full democracy. While I think that this may be jumping the gun a bit, I do think that the turn out established that people here, at least some people, do care.

The fact that Sir Bowtie has asked us to move on from this diversionary nonsense only proves where his true allegiances lay. He is not culpable to the people of hong kong as he does not represent the people. His only obligations are to be a good boy and blindy follow the Central Standing Committee’s lead, wherever that may lead us, and to do nothing beyond the degradation and stagnation of society as a whole.

The current state of politics in this fair city sickens me.

However there is hope. Approximately 19,000 blank ballots were cast in Sunday’s election. While this figure may represent mere abstentions, to me it means more, especially in light of the shenanigans perpetrated by the government to effectively stop people from voting. Those 19,000 individuals who left their ballots blank want democracy, but as the election was sidelined and there was no real contest for the seats, chose not to vote for any of the candidates on offer. This is a step in the right direction, and serves a lesson that more people in this city could learn. The lesson is such:

It does not matter who you vote for, as long as you cast a ballot.

With the stance being taken by the government, especially from the Chief Executive and Constitutional Affairs Secretary, it is more important than ever that people express their democratic voice. It is as simple as registering to vote, and going to the polling station. If we do not use our voice, it will get taken away – as the actions of the CE and his cabinet have shown (they do not care).

Fight for your interests, and fight against mainland interference. I will be marching in this year’s July 1 protest, and I urge all of you to do the same.