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Almost all of this year’s candidates vying to become one of Hong Kong’s lowest rung of elected officials, with no lawmaking powers, were “patriots” loyal to mainland China. Contenders were required to secure endorsements from government-appointed committees that are packed with Beijing loyalists.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the elections demonstrated the “superiority” of the new district council system in a Monday statement congratulating elected councillors.
The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, China’s cabinet-level office overseeing the city, said the new vetting mechanism put an end to attempts by “anti-China elements” to gain political power.
Authorities on Sunday arrested six people for allegedly inciting voters to refrain from voting or casting an invalid ballot, including three activists from the pro-democracy League of Social Democrats.
Bloomberg
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