Voter turnout in Hong Kong’s first parliamentary election since the crackdown on its pro-democracy movement sank to a record low.
Only 1.35 million of the 4.5 million eligible voters cast their ballots, authorities said.
The final results of the Sunday vote were expected later on Monday.
The figures put voter participation at 30.2 percent after polls closed in the Chinese-administered region, compared to an election turnout of 58.3 percent five years ago in Hong Kong, where some seven million people live.
The election is the first since Beijing introduced significant electoral changes to a territory that had enjoyed limited democracy as an ex-British colony.
Elections to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council have never been completely free, but this time the public could only decide on 20 of 90 seats, while 40 were selected by a handpicked committee loyal to Beijing and 30 were chosen by professional bodies.
Only candidates classified as “patriots” – which in practice means supporters of the Chinese Communist government – were allowed to run.
The move excluded members of the pro-democracy movement.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government called the vote an important step in developing a democratic system “with Hong Kong characteristics”, in a white paper released on Monday.
The document called the new electoral system broadly representative, fair and politically inclusive.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, was due to travel to Beijing on Monday evening for her annual visit.
Observers had anticipated a relatively low turnout following Beijing’s crackdown, arguing that many Hong Kong residents had given up hope of democratic changes.
A year and a half ago, a controversial national security law was passed in Hong Kong under pressure from Beijing, largely putting an end to mass pro-democracy protests.
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Many civil rights activists, protest leaders and politicians ended up in jail, while others fled abroad to avoid persecution by the authorities.
The law was widely criticised internationally as a violation of China’s promises for Hong Kong when Britain handed over the rule of the territory on July 1, 1997.
Beijing had agreed the Hong Kong special administrative region would be governed independently according to the principle of “one country, two systems”.
Hong Kong’s residents were promised they would be able to enjoy “a high degree of autonomy” and many political freedoms for 50 years until 2047. (dpa/NAN
