LONDON (Reuters] – Nathan Law, a Hong Kong democracy activist, asked voters to disregard a recent legislative election in Hong Kong. It was the first of sweeping new Beijing rules. He said they shouldn’t lend legitimacy to the vote.

China made major changes in the electoral system of the ex-British colony in March. These included a reduction in the number directly elected representatives, and an increase in the number Beijing-approved officials within an expanded legislature.

The election was delayed more than one year by the coronavirus. It is scheduled to be held Dec. 19.

“Just ignore them,” Law said in an interview from London at  the  Reuters Next conference. “We shouldn’t give legitimacy to this election. We shouldn’t pretend that we have one – it’s just a Beijing selection.”

An official for China’s embassy didn’t immediately reply to my request for comment regarding Law’s comments. Carrie Lam from Hong Kong was the chief executive and stated that “patriots will administer Hong Kong” when the election system changes were made in September.

China claims that Law is a criminal suspect sought by Hong Kong police for national security offenses.

Law, who fled Hong Kong to seek asylum in the United Kingdom in 2020, described Chinese President Xi Jinping, as an “emperor”, who would not tolerate any dissent.

He said that the system of democracy in Hong Kong was gone, but the spirit of it lives on in the hearts and minds of its people.

Democracy is not a system if it’s referring to a political party. But if we are referring to the spirit of democracy and the struggle for democracy it still exists.

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