Over 600,000 Hong Kongers cast their ballots in the democratic camp primaries elections over the weekend, far exceeding the organizer’s expected turnout in a poll widely seen as a sign of continuing opposition to the new national security law imposed by Beijing.
The election, held 10 days after the law took effect, aims to select the strongest pro-democracy candidates to contest pro-Beijing candidates in September’s Legislative Council elections.
Benny Tai, one of the vote’s organizers, described the turnout as "a miracle created by Hong Kongers." He told the press that during the two-day unofficial vote, 592,000 electronic ballots and 21,000 paper ballots were tallied, more than three times his expected turnout of 170,000.
"Hong Kong people have made history again," Tai said. "Hong Kong people have demonstrated to the world, and also to the authorities, that we have not given up to strive for democracy.”
Although the primaries were only for the opposition, the level of participation is seen as a guide to popular opinion in the financial hub of 7.5 million people.
Source : VOA