News

Hong Kong Legislature Election Opens for Nominations, Sina (2008)

 

Hong Kong unveils long-awaited democracy blueprint, Reuters (2009)

Hong Kong presented a political reform for electoral arrangements in 2012 which is seen as a "crucial step" in realizing direct elections in 2017.

Hong Kong MPs quit in an attempt to push Beijing towards direct elections, Guardian (2010)

In an attempt to press Beijing into allowing direct elections before 2017, five Hong Kong MPs resigned, so that a campaign for democracy can be revived. These opposition MPs hope that their resignations will force a special election pitting pro-democracy candidates against the pro-China ones, and hence serve as a referendum on democracy in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government is required by law to organize special by-elections as soon as possible, although no exact deadline is set.

Hong Kong politicians resign in bid for universal suffrage, Times Online (2010)

Audrey Eu, leader of the pro-democracy Civic Party is one of the five to resign, says the by-election or referendum is necessary to raise political awareness and to show Beijing that people in the territory are serious about wanting democracy.

China warns again against Hong Kong democracy push, The Washington Post (2010)

China has warned that a plan by pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong to use a special election as a de facto referendum on democratic reform is a threat to stability in the former British colony.

Hong Kong: Low voter turnout expected for HK by-election, after snubbing by major parties, Channel News Asia (2010)

A total of 26 candidates are contesting for 5 seats that were resigned by pan-democrats frustrated with the slow pace of democratic reforms in Hong Kong. The by-election will take place on May 16 and the pan-democrats hope to get a bigger share of the votes. The pro-Beijing DAB party and the pro-business Liberal Party are snubbing the elections, and voter turnout is expected to be between 25-30%.

Hong Kong holds elections in wider democracy push, Reuters (2010)

This articles Hong Kong's citywide by-elections on Sunday, May 16. These elections are considered very important by the democrats - the Civic Party and the League of Social Democrats - but the turnout was expected to be very low.

Hong Kong Voting Light, The New York Times (2010)

Five pro-democracy politicians were re-elected in the five geografic constituencies in Hong Kong. The democratic parties considered this election as an informal referendum on democracy.

Hong Kong Democrats Win Bittersweet Election Victory, Voice of America (2010)

Five democracy activists won the by-elections. The turnout, however, reached the lowest level since 1997 (17%).

Hong Kong by-election thwarted by Beijing, The Financial Times (2010)

Since 1997, Beijing’s control of Hong Kong has grown gradually. According to some observers, the low turnout from the last elections (17%) proves this.

Hong Kong: Protest Vote, The Economist (2010)

On May 16, all five of the pro-democracy politicians who resigned in January were re-elected. The conservatives, supported by the Chinese Communist Party, and the Democratic Party boycotted the elections.

Hong Kong agrees to electoral tweaks, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article reports on the agreement over a political reform plan in Hong Kong. The reform of the electoral system - the first one voted by the Democratic Party - would prepare Hong Kong for direct elections of the city's leader and legislature (in 2017 and 2010 respectively).

Hong Kong preps election reform plan, The Global Times (2010)

This article presents an electoral reform that is currently being discussed in Hong Kong. The Democratic Party expressed its satisfaction for the revised version of the reform, yet hundreds of local activist groups are strongly opposing it because it does not address the universal suffrage issue.