More arrests, threats and idiocy in the lead up to this Sunday's Legislative Council "election"

 

That Edward Leung Hei shows his idiocy once more!

 

The authorities continue to make a case for registered voters turning up to vote in this Sunday's Legislative Council "election" by doing such as arresting four more people "on suspicion of inciting others not to vote, or to cast blank ballots...by sharing an online post" asking people to effectively boycott the "election".  This brings the total number of people arrested for this "crime" up to 10 now (with three others having been arrested last Thursday and the first three last month) and who knows what it will be by "election" day itself, which still is four long days away.     

 

Seemingly thinking these arrests are insufficient for sending a message that people should go cast their votes, security chief Chris Tang decided to up the ante by warning that "Urging people to boycott this weekend's Legislative Council elections or to cast blank ballots could breach the national security law".  Honestly, at this point in time, I'm beginning to wonder what the national security law doesn't cover anymore.  

 

And yes, I can't help but think again re how spot on and prescient Kevin Yam was back in June 21st, 2020, in Tweeting the following: "Don’t analyse the #HongKong National Security Law. There’s nothing to analyse. It’s just whatever they say it is. And if they cannot make it whatever they say it is when they want something, they will just change it in whatever way they like. End of story." 

 

At the same time though, certain candidates appear to be doing their best to dissuade people from voting -- at least for them, if not outright boycotting the "election" -- by showing how idiotic they are.  Remember Edward Leung Hei of Sai Wan Ho MTR station infamy?  In the election booklet that's been sent to registered voters, he's now simultaneously claimed to be 39 years old, yet already served the section of Hong Kong that is his hoped-to-be constituency for 26 years!  

 

As evidence, see the image at the top of this blog post.  Granted that, as Jack Hon Tweeted, "it's clear that they mean the party has been servicing HK East for 29years but it's still funny and extremely badly designed and worded. It's a result of not having to give a shit about the campaign since they know they will win anyway since there are no real opposition".  (And therein lies the rub, because the fact of the matter is that Edward Leung Hei's party, the so-called Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) is by far the richest political party in Hong Kong, with lots of money to spend to -- if not outright buy votes, then to buy such as the publicity that will help get votes.)   

 

Furthermore, I can see certain announcements made by the authorities (further) putting off a number of Hong Kongers from wanting to go to the polling stations on Sunday.  An example: given the low esteem that many Hong Kongers now have for the police (as a result of their conduct in 2019 and beyond), it'd kerb many Hong Kongers' enthusiasm for going to the polls to know that over 10,000 officers will be deployed on the day "to ensure the polls will be held smoothly and safely".    

 

In addition, there's the announcement yesterday by Barnabas Fung, the chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, that "voters can wear yellow face masks if they so wish but should steer clear of displaying sensitive words".  Forget such as "revolution of our time" (as per the title of Kiwi Chow's Golden Horse award-winning protest documentary which currently is screening in seven American cities); judging from what happened at the Hong Kong marathon in October, even ga yau (add oil), the Hong Kong equivalent to the Japanese gambate or American "go for it" might be deemed to cross the ever-moving red line!  

 

Reckon all this makes for a new and improved elections?  If so, I figure you'd be in the minority of Hong Kongers rather than the majority!  (Also, yes, I really wouldn't be surprised at all if this year's Legislative Council "election" breaks records -- for having the lowest percentage of registered voter participation in HKSAR history as the polls are showing that it's very much on course to be so!)