HK set to unveil new Legislative Council today

The make-up of Hong Kong's new Legislative Council (LegCo) will be unveiled today after voters chose who they want to send to the legislature in an election yesterday under the "patriots-only" system.

A total of 153 candidates fought for 90 LegCo seats in the geographical, functional and Election Committee constituencies. But only the 20 seats in the geographical sector will be filled by direct elections.

As at 9.30pm, slightly over 29 per cent of the eligible 4.5 million voters had cast their ballots in the geographical constituencies, while voter turnout was almost 31 per cent in the functional constituencies. About 98 per cent of 1,448 members had voted in the Election Committee constituency.

The authorities said that of the 22,100 registered voters living on the mainland, more than 14,100 made a trip to one of three border-crossing stations to cast their ballots.

The voting process yesterday was generally smooth at these polling stations, with some organisations hiring coaches to ferry voters from Fujian province and other areas.

The voter turnout rate in the past six LegCo elections averaged around 51 per cent. It peaked at 58 per cent in 2016, two years after the Yellow Umbrella movement in which student protesters demanded universal suffrage.

This time - with the pro-establishment camp dominating the LegCo race, the key pan-democratic parties sitting out, and only a dozen or so candidates who call themselves non-pro-establishment - observers are not expecting any surprises.

After casting her vote in Central, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam told reporters that no target on voter turnout had been set for the election or any other polls. "There are a combination of factors that will affect voter turnout rate in any election," she said.

She also promised to work with the new LegCo members and listen to what they have to say so that policies reflect what people want, to build a better future for Hong Kong.

Metres away from the polling station, three members of the League of Social Democrats raised banners and chanted slogans such as "I want universal suffrage" and "Return me my voting rights".

Among the early bird voters was 67-year-old Mr Wan, who declined to give his full name. He was at a Central polling station to cast his ballot before heading to work at a construction site.

"The atmosphere is very tense this time round, and there are many more officers around than in previous elections," he said.

Another voter who wanted to be identified as Mr Lee said the voting process was smoother. "Last time, you still had to match your details, but now things are computerised so it's much smoother."

On his expectations for the new LegCo, the 75-year-old said: "I hope they will do some work and not turn into a rubbish legislature."

He said the biggest problems are housing and medical services, adding that there is a severe shortage of medical staff and doctors.

Elsewhere, candidates made a last-ditch attempt to woo voters by raising placards and appealing to them. The police deployed 10,000 officers to ensure the voting process was orderly.

The authorities had earlier arrested 10 people, two of whom have been charged over inciting others to cast blank votes - a move that could breach the national security law.

Associate Professor Alfred Wu from the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy noted that globally, voting rates have been declining and he thinks the pro-Beijing camp will declare it to be a good race if voter turnout is about 40 per cent.

"If the turnout is low, at about 20 per cent to 30 per cent, then they will say foreign forces are still at work in Hong Kong," said Prof Wu.

The electoral system overhaul, passed by the Hong Kong government in May, means that any candidate in city elections must be cleared by a screening committee and certified a patriot first before he or she can run.

Electoral Affairs Commission chairman Barnabas Fung expects results to be in by noon today.