Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand expressed “grave concern” on Monday over Hong Kong’s new legislature election rules after a weekend poll that saw a record low voter turnout.

China has cracked down on opposition in Hong Kong after the city was rocked by huge and often violent democracy protests in 2019.

2021 LegCo Election: canvassing
Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Beijing has imposed a national security law that criminalised much dissent and new “patriots only” political rules that vet the loyalty of those standing for office. 

new legco

The first election under these rules was held on Sunday for the city’s legislature, with a historic low turnout recorded.

“We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, noting the outcome of the Legislative Council elections in Hong Kong, express our grave concern over the erosion of democratic elements of the Special Administrative Region’s electoral system,” the nations said in a joint statement.

Hong Kong’s new rules reduced the number of directly elected seats and tightened control of who could stand for office.

major parties in the all patriots 2021 election

“These changes eliminated any meaningful political opposition,” the allies said. 

“We also remain gravely concerned at the wider chilling effect of the National Security Law and the growing restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, which are being felt across civil society.”

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