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Hong Kong Legislative Vote Posts Near-Record Low Turnout as Deadly Fire Dominates

Turnout reached 31.9%, the second-lowest on record despite an extensive push to draw voters.

Overview

  • The city elected 90 legislators under rules that cap direct universal suffrage at 20 seats and restrict office-holders to vetted 'patriots'.
  • Authorities extended polling to 11:30 p.m. and urged participation, with Chief Executive John Lee casting the vote as support for reform and pledging a judge-led inquiry plus a relief and reconstruction bill at the new council’s first sitting.
  • Police arrested 15 construction workers on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter over the Wang Fuk Court blaze that killed at least 159 people.
  • Local reports said at least three people were detained for alleged sedition after the fire, including student Miles Kwan, who was later seen leaving a police station.
  • China’s national security office in Hong Kong accused international media of false reporting and warned against ‘anti-China’ actions, as police cautioned that memorial activity at the main tribute site echoed 2019 protest tactics; major pro-democracy parties again did not contest the poll.