HKFP Lens: Hong Kong’s first ‘patriots-only’ District Council election
Around 1.19 million eligible electors cast ballots on Sunday, marking a 27.5 per cent voter turnout – a significant drop from 71.2 per cent recorded during the last District Council election held in 2019 amid the extradition bill protests.
Chief Executive John Lee casts his vote in Hong Kong’s District Council election, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Justice David Lok, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, said on Sunday that it was not appropriate to directly compare this year’s turnout with that of 2019, when 71.2 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots – a record high. The composition, voter base and voting system this year were different, Lok said.
Throughout Sunday, HKFP’s reporters and photographer spread out across the city to capture last-minute canvassing by candidates, elderly voters being bussed to polling stations, and – after a delay caused by the system failure – ballots being counted.
Police walk past a sign for a polling station for Hong Kong’s first “patriots-only” District Council race in Tsuen Wan, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. People stand outside a polling station on Hong Kong’s Lamma Island to cast their vote in an opposition-free District Council election, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP. People canvass for a candidate in Hong Kong’s first “patriots-only” District Council election in North Point, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Executive Council convenor Regina Ip (centre) canvasses with a New People’s Party candidate in Tin Hau, as Hongkongers cast their ballots in the first “patriots-only” District Council election, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. People canvass for Hong Kong’s first “patriots-only” District Council election in Tin Hau, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Canvassing in North Point as Hongkongers head to the polls to vote in the first “patriots only” District Council election, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. A candidate in Hong Kong’s first “patriots-only” District Council election in Tin Hau, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. A candidate canvasses in a dim sum restaurant in Tin Hau as polls open for Hong Kong’s first “patriots-only” District Council election, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. A bus carrying elderly Hongkongers to a polling station for Hong Kong’s “patriots only” District Council election, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. An elderly Hongkonger gets off a bus outside a polling station for Hong Kong’s “patriots only” District Council election, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. Elderly Hongkongers outside a polling station for Hong Kong’s “patriots only” District Council election, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun poses for a picture with elderly voters as Hong Kong votes in its first “patriots only” District Council election, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. A person holds up the number of a candidate in Hong Kong’s “patriots-only” District Council election in Central, on December 10, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.Ballots are counted in the “patriots only” 2023 District Council elections on December 11, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.Ballots are counted in the “patriots only” 2023 District Council elections on December 11, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.Ballots are counted in the “patriots only” 2023 District Council elections on December 11, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.Chair of the Electoral Affairs Commission Justice David Lok (left) and Chief Executive John Lee (centre) meet the press after ballots counting finished in the “patriots only” 2023 District Council elections on December 11, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
