2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries

2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries

11–12 July 2020

26 lists for Geographical Constituencies
5 lists for Functional Constituencies
Turnout606,761 (13.62%)
  First party Second party Third party
  Wu Chi-wai Alvin Yeung Ray Chan
Leader Wu Chi-wai Alvin Yeung Ray Chan
Party Democratic Civic People Power
Popular vote 77,251 73,054 28,081
Percentage 12.78% 12.08% 4.64%
Lists won 6 4 2

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Raphael Wong Ng Kin-wai
Leader Gary Poon Raphael Wong Ng Kin-wai
and others
Party TMCN LSD TSW Connection
Popular vote 35,513 34,962 20,525
Percentage 5.87% 5.78% 3.39%
Lists won 1 1 1

  Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party
  Yam Kai-bong Claudia Mo Sze Tak-loy
Leader Yam Kai-bong
and others
Claudia Mo Sze Tak-loy
Party Neo Democrats HK First ADPL
Popular vote 15,021 9,308 8,776
Percentage 2.48% 1.54% 1.45%
Lists won 1 1 1

The 2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries were held on 11 and 12 July 2020 for selecting the numbers of pro-democracy candidates for the subsequently postponed 2020 Legislative Council election to maximise the chance for the pro-democrats to achieve a majority in the 70-seat Legislative Council.

With a turnout of more than 600,000, which equals to nearly half of votes received by the pro-democracy camp in the 2016 general election, it was the most-participated primary held in the history of Hong Kong, despite the SAR government's threats of the organisers' potential breaching of the newly imposed national security law.

Traditional pro-democrat parties lost ground to the localist new faces, with an unofficial six-person alliance led by Joshua Wong and Nathan Law of the disbanded Demosistō becoming the biggest winner in the primaries. The candidates they endorsed also emerged as either top or runner-up candidates in their respective constituencies.

55 candidates and participants were arrested under the national security law on 6 January 2021, of which 47 were officially charged with conspiracy to commit subversion.

Background

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In 2019 amid the historic anti-extradition protests and the pro-democracy landslide in the District Council elections, legal scholar Benny Tai, one of the initiators of the 2014 Occupy protests, put forward a plan for the pro-democrats to win a majority of the seats in the Legislative Council to block the government's bills including the expected legislation of the Article 23 of the Basic Law which would in turn put pressure on the government to implement the five key demands of the protest movement. Based on prior experience, where excessive numbers of candidates split the pro-democratic votes in the 2016 election, he proposed a primary election within the pro-democracy camp to maximise the chance for the pro-democrats to win more seats by setting a limit on the numbers of candidates and avoid wasting votes.[1] Then, Benny Tai expects those elected legislative councillors to execute so-called "10 steps to burn with us", veto the Hong Kong SAR government's Budget bill without any reason, making a constitutional crisis and forcing the resignation of the Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive.[2]

Mechanism

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To be eligible for the primaries, each candidate had to obtain at least 100 registered voter nominations and pay a deposit of HK$10,000. The election, organised by Benny Tai and former Legislative Council member Au Nok-hin,[3] coordinated by Power for Democracy, was set to take place from 11 to 12 July between 9 am and 9 pm. The voting system was designed by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI), which also conducted polls on the recommended candidates. The surveyed results would be used to consolidate the final list of nominees for each seat in the official election in September. Voters were required to submit proof of residency or electoral register identification, and bring a smartphone to designated polling stations where they would scan the QR code and fill out their personal details to vote.[4]

Nominations

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A total of 52 nomination lists were received during the nomination period for all five geographical constituencies, the five-seat District Council (Second) and Health Services functional constituency. Most potential candidates pledged their willingness to coordinate with organisers, except for political party Civic Passion and New Territories East candidate Law Ting-fai who declined to join the primaries.[4]

The Kwai Chung-based small political group Neighbourhood and Worker's Service Centre (NWSC) which held one seat in the legislature also declared they would not follow the agreement in which a losing candidate in the primaries would not participate in the general election. Instead, the NWSC suggested it may drop out in the latter stage if the poll numbers suggested the candidate had no chance of winning. There was a backlash among the pro-democrats towards the NWSC, which was accused of undermining the mechanism of the primaries. The NWSC later withdrew their candidacy altogether and stated that they would not field any candidate in the general election.[5]

Organisers Andrew Chiu, Au Nok-hin and Benny Tai launched the primaries in front of a bus-setting polling station on 11 July.
Number of nominations in each constituency
Constituency No. of nominations Target seats Total seats
Primaries General
Hong Kong Island 8 4 4 6
Kowloon West 9 4 4 6
Kowloon East 6 5 3 5
New Territories West 8 6 6 9
New Territories East 12 7 6–7 9
District Council (Second) 5 4 3–4 5
Health Services 4 1 1 1
TOTAL 52 31 27–29 41
[edit]

On 30 June, the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) approved the final draft of the national security legislation for Hong Kong. Hours after the approval, leading members of pro-democracy group Demosistō Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, Agnes Chow and Jeffrey Ngo announced their departure from the party. Demosistō members had been repeatedly barred from standing for election with authorities citing their previous stance on "self-determination" for the city, of which Wong and Law were also running in the upcoming primaries as Demosistō members. Subsequently, Demosistō declared that it would disband after the mass resignations on the same day.[6] Few days after, Nathan Law said he had fled Hong Kong in response to the security law.[7] He later dropped out from the primaries and endorsed Tiffany Yuen.[8]

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang warned that the primaries might violate the new Beijing-imposed national security law. Tsang said one of the objectives of the primaries was to win a majority of seats in the legislature and subsequently vote against the budget. He added this could contravene clauses in the new law prohibiting secession, subversion and collusion with foreign powers. Benny Tai refuted the claim by saying such advocacy work was in accordance with the principles of the Basic Law. He added that vetoing the budget would not constitute "seriously interfering in, disrupting, or undermining the performance of duties and functions" of the government under Article 22 of the new law because the chief executive has the power to dismiss the legislature and call a by-election.[9]

On 10 July one day before the primaries, the Housing Authority sent out a mass letter saying all District Councillors were barred from using their offices as polling stations or for any purposes other than related to district council activities. It warned that action might be taken against the District Councillors who were found to have violated terms in their rental contracts. A pro-democracy ice cream shop also had to scrap the plan to become a polling station after the property managers warned their participation could violate the tenancy agreement.[10] At night, Hong Kong Police raided the Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) office in Wong Chuk Hang, accusing the organisation of dishonest use of a computer. Au Nok-hin said the police move was to suppress the weekend voting and cast a "deterrent effect" on organisers and supporters.[11]

Results

[edit]
Long queue outside polling station at Tai Po Plaza on 12 July 2020.

Over 590,000 electronic ballots and more than 20,000 paper ballots were recorded throughout the two-day vote, more than 13 per cent of the total number of registered voters and far exceeding the organisers' expected turnout of 170,000. Despite the national security law and legal threats, "Hong Kong people have made history again – another miracle happened in Hong Kong," Benny Tai said. "Hong Kong people – after all these years, since 2003 – have demonstrated to the world, and also to the authorities, that we have not given up to strive for democracy."[12]

Traditional parties lost ground in most of the direct constituencies to the localist new faces, with Democratic Party incumbent legislator Helena Wong only coming seventh in her Kowloon West constituency.[13] Former legislator "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung of the League of Social Democrats managed only ninth place in New Territories East for which only the top seven candidates would run in the general election.[13] Joseph Lee, incumbent legislator of the Health Services constituency lost to Winnie Yu of the labour union Hospital Authority Employees Alliance, which had launched a labour strike during the anti-extradition bill protests. Candidates from numerous small parties were wiped out, including Carol Ng from the Labour Party, who lost in New Territories West.[13]

Localist candidates emerged as the new force in the primaries, with an unofficial six-person alliance led by former Demosistō secretary-general Joshua Wong, incumbent legislator Eddie Chu and endorsed by withdrawn candidate Nathan Law, all became either the top or runner-up candidate in their respective constituencies. Wong himself was the top candidate in Kowloon East, while Eddie Chu and former journalist Gwyneth Ho came first in New Territories West and New Territories East respectively.[13] Tiffany Yuen who was endorsed by Nathan Law and activist Sunny Cheung also came in second in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon West respectively, while activist Lester Shum came in second in the District Council (Second) and Winnie Yu won the Health Services functional constituency.

Summary of the 11–12 July 2020 results of the pro-democracy primaries for the 2020 Legislative Council election
Political Affiliation Geographical Constituencies Functional Constituencies Total
elected
Popular vote % List Elected Popular vote % List Elected
Democratic Party 77,251 12.78 5 4 318,621 59.75 2 2 6
Civic Party 73,054 12.08 4 4 10,579 1.98 1 0 4
People Power 28,081 4.64 2 2 2
League of Social Democrats 34,962 5.78 2 1 1
Neo Democrats 15,021 2.48 2 1 1
HK First 9,308 1.54 1 1 1
Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood 8,776 1.45 2 1 1
Labour Party 10,860 1.80 1 0 0
Community Alliance 1,489 0.25 1 0 0
Professionals Guild 218 0.04 1 0 0
Independent democrats 54 0.01 1 0 0
Total for traditional democrats 258,802 42.80 20 14 329,472 61.78 5 2 16
Tuen Mun Community Network 35,513 5.87 1 1 1
Tin Shui Wai Connection 20,525 3.39 1 1 1
Peninsular Commons 7,671 1.27 1 0 0
Team Pang Cheuk-kei 2,880 0.48 1 0 0
Hospital Authority Employees Alliance 2,493 0.47 1 1 1
Independent localists 263,546 43.59 14 10 200,780 37.65 2 2 12
Total for localists 330,135 54.60 18 12 203,273 38.12 3 3 15
Chai Wan Startup 7,974 1.32 1 0 0
Non-aligned independents 7,749 1.28 3 0 516 0.10 1 0 0
Total 604,660 100.00 42 26 533,261 100.00 9 5 31
Total valid votes 604,660 99.65 533,261 100.00
Invalid votes 2,101 0.35
Total votes / turnout 606,761 13.62 533,261 12.61
Registered voters 4,455,331 100.00 4,228,096 100.00

Geographical Constituencies

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Hong Kong Island
List Candidates Votes Of total (%) ± from prev.
Democratic Hui Chi-fung, So Yat-hang 28,189 31.17
Ind. democrat Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai 19,844 21.94
Independent Fergus Leung Fong-wai 14,743 16.30
Civic Tat Cheng 11,090 12.26
Chai Wan Startup Chui Chi-kin 7,974 8.82
Independent Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying 5,707 6.31
Team Pang Pang Cheuk-kei, Ho Chi-wang, Clara Cheung, Li Wing-choi 2,880 3.18
Total valid votes 90,427 100.00
Rejected ballots 48
Turnout 90,475 12.82
Registered electors 705,525
Kowloon West
List Candidates Votes Of total (%) ± from prev.
LSD Sham Tsz-kit 25,670 31.68
Nonpartisan Sunny Cheung Kwan-yang 16,992 20.97
HK First Claudia Mo 9,308 11.49
ADPL Kalvin Ho Kai-ming 7,791 9.62
Peninsular Commons Frankie Fung Tat-chun, Lee Hin-long 7,671 9.47
Nonpartisan Lau Wai-chung 6,295 7.77
Democratic Wong Pik-wan 4,718 5.82
Independent Lau Chak-fung 1,426 1.76
Nonpartisan Jeffrey Alterin Andrews 1,150 1.42
Total valid votes 81,021 100.00
Rejected ballots 143
Turnout 81,164 13.51
Registered electors 600,864
Kowloon East
List Candidates Votes Of total (%) ± from prev.
Independent Joshua Wong Chi-fung[a] 31,398 34.05
Civic Jeremy Tam Man-ho 23,244 25.20
Localist Li Ka-tat 15,194 16.48
People Power Tam Tak-chi 10,980 11.91
Democratic Wu Chi-wai 10,421 11.30
ADPL Sze Tak-loy 985 1.07
Total valid votes 92,222 100.00
Rejected ballots 221
Turnout 92,443 13.05
Registered electors 708,348
New Territories West
List Candidates Votes Of total (%) ± from prev.
Nonpartisan Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, Eddie Chan Shu-fai, Fung Siu-yin, Wong Pit-man 49,901 28.27
TMCN Sam Cheung Ho-sum 35,513 20.12
Independent Wong Ji-yuet 22,911 12.98
TSW Connection Ng Kin-wai, Lam Chun 20,525 11.63
Democratic Andrew Wan Siu-kin 18,608 10.54
Civic Kwok Ka-ki 13,354 7.56
Labour Carol Ng Man-yee 10,860 6.15
Neo Democrats Tam Hoi-pong, Roy Pun Long-chung 4,865 2.76
Total valid votes 176,537 100.00
Rejected ballots 39
Turnout 176,576 13.54
Registered electors 1,303,946
New Territories East
List Candidates Votes Of total (%) ± from prev.
Nonpartisan Ho Kwai-lam 26,802 16.30
Localist Lau Wing-hong, Li Chi-wang, Chiu Chu-pong, Wong Hok-lai, Chan Wan-tung, Ricardo Liao Pak-hong, William Shek, Lo Tak-ming, Wong Ho-fung 26,707 16.24
Civic Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu 25,366 15.42
People Power Raymond Chan Chi-chuen 17,101 10.40
Nonpartisan Owen Chow Ka-shing 16,758 10.19
Democratic Lam Cheuk-ting, Wong Hoi-ying, Ng Ting-lam, Kwok Long-fung 15,315 9.31
Neo Democrats Gary Fan Kwok-wai, Lai Ming-chak 10,156 6.18
Nonpartisan Hendrick Lui Chi-hang 9,813 5.97
LSD Leung Kwok-hung 9,292 5.65
Nonpartisan Mike Lam 5,350 3.25
Community Alliance Ricky Or Yiu-lam 1,489 0.91
Independent Lee Chi-yung 304 0.18
Total valid votes 164,453 100.00
Rejected ballots 1,650
Turnout 166,103 14.61
Registered electors 1,136,648

Functional Constituencies

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District Council (Second)
List Candidates Votes Of total (%) ± from prev.
Democratic Kwong Chun-yu 268,630 50.69
Nonpartisan Lester Shum 129,074 24.35
Localist Wong Pak-yu 71,706 13.53
Democratic James To Kun-sun 49,991 9.43
Civic Lee Yue-shun 10,579 2.00
Total valid votes 529,980 100.00
Rejected ballots N/A
Turnout 529,980 12.66
Registered electors 4,187,738
Health Services
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
HAEA Winnie Yu Wai-ming 2,493 75.98
Ind. democrat Michael Felix Lau Hoi-man 516 15.73
Professionals Guild Joseph Lee Kok-long 218 6.64
Nonpartisan Yuen Wai-kit 54 1.65
Total valid votes 3,281 100.00
Rejected ballots 0
Turnout 8.13
Registered electors 40,358

Responses

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam issued a strong warning to the candidates and organisers of the primaries, saying it was subversive for them to vow to seize control of the legislature and vote down key government proposals. "If this so-called primary election's purpose is to achieve the ultimate goal of delivering what they called '35+' [lawmakers], with the objective of objecting or resisting every policy initiative of the HKSAR government, it may fall into the category of subverting the state power – one of the four types of offences under the national security law," she said.[13]

A spokesman for Beijing's Liaison Office in Hong Kong condemned the opposition camp for ignoring the Hong Kong government's warning of possible legal breaches and pressing ahead with the primary. "It is a serious provocation to the current election system, seriously damages the fairness and impartiality of the Legislative Council election, and seriously harms to the legal rights and interests of other candidates," the office wrote.[14] It named Benny Tai as a suspect in a possible breach of the national security law by coordinating with the opposition camp to seek control of the legislature, vote down the budget, paralyse the government and subvert the state power. It also accused Tai and the opposition of aiming to take over the city's governance by staging the Hong Kong version of a "colour revolution".[13] The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) also accused organiser Benny Tai of "illegally manipulating" the Hong Kong's electoral system, challenging the new national security law and acting as a political agent for foreign forces.[15]

Benny Tai defended that the candidates were not seeking to undermine the performance of duties and functions by the body of power of the central government or of Hong Kong, referring to their agreement that pro-democrats should veto the budget if they were voted into the legislature. "Legco’s power of vetoing the budget is stated in the Basic Law," he said. "How can a power that is recognised by the Basic Law be breaching the national security law?"[13] Amid the threats from the Beijing authorities, Au Nok-hin announced on 15 July that he would step down as the organiser of the primaries.[16]

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated the success of the primaries and said the United States was gravely concerned over Carrie Lam's warning that the primaries might have violated the new national security law. In a statement, Pompeo said Washington would be watching developments in Hong Kong closely and urged the Legislative Council general election in September to be "equally free and fair".[17][18]

Arrests and trials

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53 pro-democracy activists were arrested on the morning of 6 January 2021 under the new national security law over their organisation and participation in the primaries including six organizers and 47 participants. The police also searched 72 places including home of jailed activist Joshua Wong, the offices of news outlets Apple Daily, Stand News and InMedia HK and froze more than $200,000 in funds related to the effort.[19] Maya Wang of Human Rights Watch issued a statement condemning the arrests: "The Chinese government has decided to mark 2021 with sweeping arrests of over 50 prominent pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, removing the remaining veneer of democracy in the city. Beijing once again has failed to learn from its mistakes in Hong Kong: that repression generates resistance, and that millions of Hong Kong people will persist in their struggle for their right to vote and run for office in a democratically elected government."[20] The arrests also received a round of international criticism. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called "the mass arrest of politicians and activists in Hong Kong is a grievous attack on Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms as protected under the Joint Declaration."[21]

On 28 February 2021, of the 55 pro-democracy figures initially arrested in January, 47 were officially charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the national security law.[22][23]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Registered as Demosistō but quit the party on 30 June 2020 before the party dissolved itself on the same day.

References

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  1. ^ "戴耀廷倡「去中心化」雷動2.0 搶攻功能界別 冀泛民佔立會過半". 信報財經新聞 (in Traditional Chinese). 2 December 2019.
  2. ^ Standard, The. "Explainer: what is Benny Tai's "10 steps to burn with us"". The Standard. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  3. ^ "【立會選舉】民主派初選現曙光 戴耀廷區諾軒牽頭 素人看淡成事". Hong Kong 01. 28 February 2020. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Hong Kong pro-democracy activists to hold primaries ahead of legislative elections". Hong Kong Free Press. 10 June 2020. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  5. ^ "立法會選舉|街工確認無交提名參加民主派初選 盧藝賢:直接參選立法會言之過早". 明報. 22 June 2020. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Joshua Wong's pro-democracy group Demosisto disbands hours after Hong Kong security law passed". Hong Kong Free Press. 30 June 2020. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Hong Kong activist Nathan Law says he fled city". Deutsche Welle. 2 July 2020. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  8. ^ "羅冠聰退出民主派初選 籲轉投袁嘉蔚". 明報. 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Hong Kong legislative primaries may violate national security law, mainland affairs minister warns". Hong Kong Free Press. 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Hong Kong primaries: Pro-democracy shop scraps polling station plan as gov't warns district councillors". Hong Kong Free Press. 11 July 2020. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Hong Kong police raid office of poll organisers involved in Saturday's opposition primary, over suspected data leak from 2013 project". South China Morning Post. 10 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  12. ^ "'Hong Kong people made history again': Over 600,000 vote in democrats' primaries as co-organiser hails 'miracle' turnout". Hong Kong Free Press. 12 July 2020. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Cheung, Tony; Wong, Natalie; Cheng, Lilian (13 July 2020). "Hong Kong's traditional opposition parties lose out to localist challengers in fierce weekend primary for coming Legislative Council election". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  14. ^ "'Serious provocation': Beijing blasts Hong Kong democrat primaries after initial results reveal". Hong Kong Free Press. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Hong Kong elections: Beijing issues strongest condemnation yet of opposition's primary vote, accusing organiser Benny Tai of manipulating polling system". South China Morning Post. 14 July 2020. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  16. ^ "'Primaries' organizer Au Nok-hin quits". The Standard. 15 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Pompeo says U.S. gravely concerned by Lam warning on Hong Kong primary elections". Reuters. 15 July 2020. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Pompeo urges 'free and fair' Hong Kong vote after China warning". France 24. 14 July 2020. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Hong Kong Police Arrest Dozens of Pro-Democracy Leaders". The New York Times. 5 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Over 50 Hong Kong democrats arrested under security law over 2020 legislative primaries". Hong Kong Free Press. 6 January 2021.
  21. ^ "China 'misled world' on Hong Kong security law, says Dominic Raab". The Guardian. 6 January 2021.
  22. ^ "Dozens of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists charged under national security law". The Washington Post. 28 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Hong Kong Charges 47 Opposition Activists Under Security Law". Bloomberg. 28 February 2021.