- Title: Long queues as Hongkongers vote on second day of opposition camp primaries
- Date: 12th July 2020
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (JULY 12, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS QUEUING AT POLLING STATION IN TAI PO VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS ENTERING POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) 50-YEAR-OLD HONG KONG RESIDENT AND HOUSEWIFE, MS. CHAN, SAYING: "I'm quite touched (by the turnout). And these two weeks are relatively peaceful but the passion and yearning (for democracy) in our hearts couldn't be wiped away." RESIDENTS QUEUING AT POLLING STATION RESIDENTS ENTERING POLLING STATION RESIDENTS QUEUING AT POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) 21-YEAR-OLD HONG KONG RESIDENT MR. CHEUNG, SAYING: "So far I don't know any friend of mine are scared off by the national security law. But I think there are definitely people who fear the legislation as the government is not being reasonable nowadays. Of course some of them are scared." VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS QUEUING AT POLLING STATION RESIDENTS WALKING TOWARD POLLING STATION AT MA ON SHAN ELECTION HELPERS ASSISTING RESIDENTS TO VOTE VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS QUEUING AT POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) 24-YEAR-OLD HONG KONG RESIDENT GRACE LEUNG, WORKING IN FINANCE INDUSTRY, SAYING: "I do think it is my civil right and my responsibility to come out and to represent myself and other people that have similar thoughts. And I don't think the government can represent us so that's why I came out today. I do hope that the international community would see our solidarity and stand with us and help us hopefully." VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS QUEUING AT POLLING STATION
- Embargoed: 26th July 2020 09:46
- Keywords: Beijing China Chinese Communist party Hong Kong Hong Kong protest democracy national security law opposition camp primary election
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001CMI5FLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: More than 410,000 voters have casted their ballots in the primaries organised by Hong Kong's opposition camp to select democracy candidates, who stand the best chance of success in September's Legislative Council elections, as of 0801 GMT on Sunday (July 12), the organiser announced.
The elections come less than two weeks after Beijing imposed sweeping national security legislation on the Asian financial hub, stoking concerns that wide-ranging freedoms not seen in mainland China will be crushed.
The law punishes what China describes broadly as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with up to life in prison and allows mainland security agents to operate officially in Hong Kong for the first time.
Long queues continued to form outside polling stations set up across the Chinese-ruled city on the second day of the democrats' primaries despite the city's secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs' warning that the election could breach the new national security law.
21-year-old Mr. Cheung, one of the residents who lined up at a polling station at Tai Po, told Reuters that he believes some of the residents would fear that they may beach the law by voting at the election.
"There are definitely people who fear the legislation as the government is not being reasonable nowadays. Of course some of them are scared," he said.
While the primaries are only for the opposition camp, observers are watching closely as they say the turnout at the election will serve as a litmus test of broader opposition to the national security law.
The election seeks to bolster the chance for pro-democracy candidates to achieve a 35-plus majority in the 70-seat legislature in polls on September 6, potentially giving them power to block government proposals.
The polls will close at 9 p.m. (1300 GMT) with results to be announced on Monday (July 13).
(Production: Yoyo Chow, Carol Mang) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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