Hong Kong Election Landslide Signals More Frictions With Beijing

If the election outcome is to be interpreted as the popular will, then it should be pointed out that the pro-democracy candidates received 55% of the votes, while the pro-establishment candidates received 41% of the votes.

Do people really think an election will make any difference in how China governs Hong Kong? China is NOT a democracy in any way. It is an autocracy and has been for some time. China is NOT going to let Hong Kong go its own way. Hong Kong will NEVER successfully secede or gain meaningful control over its future. Over time China will tighten its hold - it cannot afford to do otherwise. China has the means and will to crush any 'rebellion'. It has been more than willing to do so in the past. China has been directly responsible for tens of millions of deaths of its own citizens in misguided efforts like The Great Leap Forward. Stories about its treatment of Muslim minorities share the pages of this paper that tout the 'victories' Hong Kong protestors. Expect China to consolidate its police state in the future. They are seeking total control over their population using the scientific dictatorship seen in Huxley's Brave New World - backed up with the repression of Orwell's 1984. In truth democracy is fading throughout the world, including here in the US.

Finally, thank god, some good news. Democracy isn’t dead yet, people! Americans, take note.

This is a huge win for the people of HK. Let's celebrate an overwhelming victory for a peoples who demonstrate a true determination for what's right, not try to predict how White House press will spin the story to benefit Trump's campaign.

Congrats new District Councillors on your victory. But remember you still have to serve the 41% of HK citizens that voted pro-govt. and against you. (55% voted for the pan-dems and 4% for non-affiliated parties.) Also, gaining more democracy won’t help voters pay their bills.

The more China tries to squeeze Hong Kong, the more support slips through it’s fingers. This is a clear signal to Beijing but it’s also a hollow victory in the sense that these district councils are not politically powerful at all. As usual, Beijing has to ‘rig’ the system so that only pro-Beijing lawmakers can be elected. And the leader of Hong Kong is always a person pre-approved approved by Beijing. They can’t put their system of government up to actual elections because they would lose.

Congrats to the newly elected HK District Counsellors from the pan-dem party, whom scored an impressive victory on Sunday. But remember you must also represent the 41% of voters whom cast their ballots for pro-govt candidates and thus, against you. (According to HK’s South China Morning Post, 55% of voters cast ballots for pan-dem candidates, 4% for unaffiliated party candidates, and the remainder for pro-govt. candidates.) Also, remember HK’s economy contracted 3.2% in the third quarter. And giving more democracy to voters won’t help them pay their bills.

In Australia a referendum asks a specific, considered question and compulsory voting ensures a huge turnout such that when referenda are passed in the affirmative no doubt whatsover exists that the result truly represents the political will of the nation. Is Hong Kong a Nation? The weekend vote asked no specific question. The result is being interpreted through so many ideological perspectives that the result adds to the uncertainty. But from your article it appears that Beijing is steadfastly certain of one thing alone. That is, Hong Kong is and will forever remain China. What's that old Chinese curse? "May you live in interesting times".

Wow - voting matters. What a concept. Guess in Hong Kong a majority opted to get up and out to preserve its democracy. 2020 - hope we follow their lead.

Not only will trump come out clucking against Democracy in Hong Kong, his cult followers will advise us that 87% of Hong Kong voters are now 'enemies of the people', like Democrats are to them here in the U.S.A. 'The city’s Beijing-backed establishment camp suffered a staggering defeat in elections for district councils as democracy advocates swept 87 percent of the seats, up from less than a third. Beijing and its supporters in Hong Kong, including the city’s embattled leader, Carrie Lam, must now reckon with a resounding, very public display of support for the democracy camp and the protest movement.'

Any day now I expect Trump to come out in favor of Beijing.