Last-ditch effort to get Hongkongers to vote in Legco poll, but turnout uncertain

Hong Kong authorities have made a last-ditch appeal for residents to refocus on the city’s reform and their future by voting in Sunday’s Legislative Council election, as political analysts said public sentiment after the deadly fire in Tai Po would play a decisive role in voter turnout rates.

The appeal came as Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong met with foreign media representatives on Saturday. In a statement, the office said some reports had attacked the election and smeared the government’s relief efforts, warning the outlets not to cross “legal red lines”.

In a bid to drum up support for the Legislative Council poll, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his top officials posted a new slogan, “Deepen reforms to create the future”, on their social media pages, as the city reels from its deadliest fire in decades, which claimed at least 159 lives.

“Following the improvement of the electoral system, the Legislative Council now has broader and more balanced coverage, with more diverse voices and opinions, reflecting not only district and sectoral interests but also Hong Kong’s overall interests,” Lee wrote in his post.

“I once again call on all eligible voters to actively participate in tomorrow’s election and elect lawmakers with vision, capability and commitment to collectively contribute to Hong Kong’s development and people’s well-being.”

The city leader visited polling stations in Tung Chung and at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge checkpoint, inspecting voting arrangements and rallying station staff.

On Friday, Lee pledged to take action at the first Legco meeting and push through systemic reforms to close loopholes in the construction sector’s practices, which have come under heavy scrutiny in the aftermath of the tragedy.