Tik Chi Yuen

Opinion | District councils must re-engage Hongkongers and reverse the disconnect

A record low voter turnout reflects a disconnect. For social reforms to succeed, communities must be engaged – the new district councils must make this their top task

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Political parties canvass voters for the district council election at North Point on December 10. Photo: Sam Tsang

Tik Chi Yuen

Published: 9:30am, 19 Dec 2023

After Hong Kong’s district council election, the efforts of the government and pro-establishment circles have been credited with achieving what Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu called a “good” voter turnout of 27.54 per cent. But such a historically low voter turnout surely warrants introspection. Beyond an extensive promotional campaign, what else might ignite the civic spirit in future elections?

And as we ponder how our new district councils will function, we should also consider their evolution from the perspective of social cohesion.

No longer should they be confined to the narrow view of being mere political training grounds, as touted by certain political parties, or relegated to serving solely as government administrative units. Indeed, through tailored initiatives responding to local needs, district councils can contribute to local governance like no other institution in the city.

Unfortunately, efforts to nurture social cohesion were sorely lacking in the recent election. Only one bloc was allowed to take part in the election and canvass for votes. Unsurprisingly, the election campaign failed to fully engage the community, and this meant fewer people bothered to explore the perspectives, priorities and agendas offered to foster social progress.

This is in contrast to previous district council elections, which were marked by vibrant community mobilisations, as pro-establishment and democratic forces vied for support. With genuine competition, people were more deeply engaged in the election and in sharing their concerns. Voter turnout was much higher, reflecting people’s sense of community and belonging.

It is worth noting that citizen participation in elections often transcends mere party politics, as many have the non-partisan intention of driving reforms and positive changes in their community. District council elections can and do serve as platforms to empower citizens in their pursuit of collective progress.