Record Low Turnout in Hong Kong's District Council Elections

New rules introduced by Beijing effectively shut out pro-democracy candidates, leading to criticism and claims of a silent protest.

• Hong Kong's district council elections saw a record low turnout of 27.5%, a significant drop from the 71.2% recorded in the last election in 2019.
• The elections were the first to be held under new rules introduced by Beijing, which effectively shut out all pro-democracy candidates.
• Hong Kong leader John Lee praised the turnout, stating that the 1.2 million voters indicated their support for the election and its principles.
• The new district councils are expected to focus on livelihood issues and district matters, with members' performance being monitored.
• Critics argue that the low turnout represents a silent protest against the shrinking of civil liberties in the city.

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