G7 condemns 'erosion' of democracy in Hong Kong polls

World powers condemned Hong's Kong tightly vetted legislature vote, saying rules imposed by Beijing that reduced directly-elected seats and controlled who could stand had eroded democracy in the Chinese territory.

China has overseen a sweeping crackdown in Hong Kong in response to huge and often violent democracy protests two years ago.

It imposed a national security law in the former British colony that criminalized much dissent and introduced political rules that vet the loyalty of anyone standing for office.

The first public vote under this new order was held on Sunday for the city's legislature, with a historic low turnout recorded and the number of those directly elected slashed from half to 22%.

Figures showed just 30% of the electorate cast ballots, the lowest rate both of the period since the city's 1997 handover to China and the British colonial era.

Turnout at the last legislature polls in 2016 was 58%, while the 2019 district council elections, when pro-democracy figures won a landslide, saw a record 71%.

The foreign ministers of the G7 group of most developed nations expressed "grave concern over the erosion of democratic elements" in Hong Kong's electoral system after the poll.

The new vetting process "to severely restrict the choice of candidates on the ballot paper undermined Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy" under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" agreed for the handover of the territory from the UK to China in 1997.

The foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and US called on China "to restore confidence in Hong Kong's political institutions and end the unwarranted oppression of those who promote democratic values and the defense of rights and freedoms".

The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement that the poll was "yet another step in the dismantling of the ‘One Country Two Systems’ principle," and called for a "high degree of autonomy as well as respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic principles and the rule of law" in Hong Kong.

Eliminated opposition

In an earlier statement, Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand had rebuked the new system in even stronger language, saying "these changes eliminated any meaningful political opposition".

"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," the five Western allies added.

China called on Hong Kongers to embrace the new rules that they say will restore stability and root out disruptive "anti-China" elements for good.

Hong Kong's chief executive Carrie Lam defended the new system and brushed off the low turnout.

"Hong Kong is now back on the right track," she told reporters.

"We cannot copy and paste the so-called democratic system or rules of the Western countries."

Zhao Lijian, China's foreign ministry spokesman, blamed the low turnout on the pandemic and "anti-China elements bent on destroying Hong Kong and the interference of external forces".

In March, a 1,500-strong committee stacked with Beijing loyalists will pick the city's next leader.

With her public approval ratings at around 36%, Lam has declined to say whether she will seek another term.

Jerome Taylor and Su Xinqi

Agence France-Presse