Hong Kong is bracing for what could be one of its lowest turnouts in years as residents prepare to vote in a “patriots only” legislative election on Sunday, just days after the city suffered its deadliest fire in decades, which has left 159 people dead.
The upcoming vote, the first major political event since the tragedy, is widely viewed as a test of public confidence in the government as anger and grief ripple across the city.
Political activity across Hong Kong has been muted. Volunteers returned to the streets on Friday to restart campaigning after a brief suspension, but many residents walked past without acknowledging them.
“Everyone’s mood is so heavy right now,” said May Li, a 48-year-old resident who lives near the affected housing estate. “How can we still talk about holding an election under these circumstances? It definitely has to be postponed.”
Authorities revealed earlier this week that substandard renovation materials at the Tai Po high-rise helped accelerate the blaze, an admission that deepened public frustration.
“This accident, of course, can influence the attendance of the election,” said 82-year-old C.K. Lau. “People don’t have the interest or the eagerness to elect anyone.”
Analysts say Sunday’s election represents an informal referendum on the Hong Kong government’s legitimacy, following a series of sweeping electoral reforms introduced after Beijing imposed the 2020 national security law.
These changes, enacted in 2021, require all candidates for the 90-seat Legislative Council (LegCo) to be vetted as “patriots,” a standard that has effectively eliminated pro-democracy participation. The last LegCo election in 2021 saw turnout fall to 30.2%, the lowest since Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997.
Read Also: Hong Kong Scaffolding Net Removal Ordered After Deadly Fire
On Thursday, Hong Kong’s national security office issued a call for residents to take part in the vote, describing participation as crucial to the city’s post-disaster recovery.
“Every voter is a stakeholder in the homeland of Hong Kong,” the statement said. “If you truly love Hong Kong, you will vote sincerely.”
Authorities have also warned against attempts to leverage public anger or revive widespread political dissent reminiscent of the 2019 protests. Security officials said any effort to “exploit” the fire to incite unrest would be dealt with under existing national security provisions.
Enforcement bodies have tightened oversight as election day approaches. Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency confirmed Thursday that four people were arrested for inciting others not to vote, an offense criminalized in 2021. Three additional arrests for similar allegations were reported on November 20.
The government has repeatedly argued that discouraging voter participation undermines national security, citing efforts to stamp out what it calls foreign-influenced attempts to destabilize the city.