The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on Friday has warned that attempts are ongoing by anti-China troublemakers to disrupt the upcoming legislature poll in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In an article written under the name Gang Ao-ping, posted on the HKMAO’s official social media account, the office cautioned the city to remain vigilant against attempts by anti-China forces to destabilize the electoral process.
The article said that the office has noted the circulation of certain false narratives around the city about the legislature poll, including fabricated claims of “the central government’s interference”, the existence of a so-called “blessing lists”, unfounded attacks on the performance of current Legislative Council members, as well as calls to boycott the poll.
These all signal a troubling return to previous tactics employed in an effort to sabotage the electoral process, the article noted.
According to the article, the aims of such efforts are to deny the electoral system has been improved, challenge the central government's overall jurisdiction over the Hong Kong SAR, attack the governance of the HKSAR government, disrupt the city’s transformation through good governance to prosperity, and drag the city back into political chaos.
Such efforts by anti-China troublemakers have never ceased, Gang wrote.
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Before the city improved its electoral system, troublemakers conspired with external forces, smeared, attempted to sabotage the electoral process, spread misleading polls, and resorted to violence to manipulate voters, the article detailed.
During the 2019 social unrest, anti-China activists plotted to grab control of Hong Kong by securing a majority in the legislature, it added.
Such actions severely threaten the integrity of elections and pose significant threats to national security and the stability of the regional government, said the article.
Following the implementation of the Safeguarding National Security law and the improvements to the SAR’s electoral system, the city ushered in a pivotal transformation toward “patriots governing Hong Kong”, keeping troublemakers and their proxies out of the city’s governing team.
Vigilance from all sectors of the public remains essential, the article said, and the SAR’s law enforcement and judicial bodies will not stand idly by; anyone attempting to interfere with or disrupt the elections will face legal repercussions and severe penalties.
The article also called on voters to cherish their ballots and proactively exercise their democratic rights and cast a responsible vote for the future of their city.
It said that the upcoming eighth Legislative Council election in the HKSAR will further strengthen the foundations for good governance in Hong Kong through genuine, effective and practical democratic practices, and open up a new, high-quality democracy that is suited to the conditions in Hong Kong.
