Vigorous campaigning continues as New Territories East by-election voters cast their ballots
Poll seen as a test of public opinion for Hong Kong Indigenous and a chance for pro-establishment parties to secure grip on Legco
More than 276,336 voters cast their ballots in the first 10 hours of polling for the Legislative Council’s New Territories East geographical constituency by-election on Sunday as the seven candidates made last-ditch efforts to rally support.
The accumulative turnout rate stood at 29.39 per cent as of 5.30pm, lower than the 32.21 per cent recorded in the first 10 hours of polling in the 2012 Legco election.
The by-election, which will end at 10.30pm on Sunday, will fill the seat vacated by former Civic Party member and moderate politician Ronny Tong Ka-wah, who quit Legco following the government’s failed attempt at electoral reform last year.
One voter, Chan Kai, a retired civil servant, said he voted for a pro-establishment candidate. “I want Hong Kong to be more peaceful,” he said.
Chan said the Mong Kok riot and filibustering had been important factors influencing his decision. “Some of my friends who work in retail were affected by the chaos,” he said. “And filibustering has really made the city lag behind other advanced places.”
But 20-year-old university student Sabrina Tsui Wai-yin said she would vote for Civic Party candidate Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu due to his performance during televised debates.
