By Aleksander Solum

HONG KONG, (Reuters) – Adrian Lau is among a few independent candidates for Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. The elections are the first since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law and a shake-up of the city’s electoral system.

This new system is based on the principle that “patriots rule Hong Kong”, and it was designed to improve the electoral process. Each candidate must be approved and vetted by the national security vetting panel.

Traditionally considered to be the opposition, major pandemocratic parties in Hong Kong haven’t endorsed candidates or filed any candidate. In protest at the disqualification of elected lawmakers by the government, many opposition legislators quit the legislature in November 2020.

Lau is a first-time candidate for the legislative seat and describes himself as an independent democratic.

He claims there are certain benefits to running for office and hopes the legislature won’t allow it to speed up the government without thorough scrutiny.

“The best thing is that we will have one representative (in parliament) who represents the democratic side. Lau said that Lau was looking for someone who is able to speak up on behalf of the Hong Kong citizens. “I will utilize the Legislative Council’s tools and resources, but I want to continue speaking truthfully and using common sense.

According to the Hong Kong government, rights and protections including freedom speech are guaranteed by a 2011 national security law.

Only 20 of the 90 seats in Sunday’s election will be elected directly by the public. There are 35 options. The elections have 153 candidates. All of them were thoroughly vetted before they could run. There are only around twelve moderates who claim to be from other backgrounds and the majority of the remaining candidates support the pro-establishment party.

A spokesperson for Hong Kong’s government did not answer Reuters inquiries about why there were so few independent candidates in this election.

For their participation in the unofficial primary election, 47 Hong Kong democracy activists and ex-legislators were charged by police with conspiracy to subvert. This was after Beijing had imposed the new national security law.

China’s parliament quickly announced dramatic changes in the electoral landscape. It will reduce the number directly elected seats by half, to approximately a quarter of the total, and an electoral committee made up of pro-Beijing members will choose 40 of the legislative positions.

China also established a new vetting agency, which was headed by high-ranking officials from Hong Kong. The purpose of the body was to select potential candidates and ensure that “patriots” are not allowed to run.

Lau, who is running in the legislative election for the first time, told Reuters he spent two weeks seeking nominations from pro-Beijing figures and got 10, the minimum required, through a business contact he declined to name.

Jean-Pierre Cabestan is a Hong Kong-based political scientist who said that the electoral reforms have put traditional pro-democracy opponents in an awkward position.

The pan-democrats find themselves in a difficult situation. If you agree to the rules, then you could be charged with legitimising an unfair system. You don’t stand a chance to have your say in the new political arrangements if you reject the system,” he stated.

Carrie Lam of Hong Kong, leader of the Hong Kong Communist Party has declared that elections are now “much better representative with more evenly participated” and will elect those who “are patriotic to manage the city”.

Ng Chau-pei is an active supporter of the election shake-up. He is also a member of National People’s Congress. According to the pro-establishment candidate, he ran to address deep-rooted social issues such as housing, an ageing population, and a widening wealth gap.

Although Hong Kong’s electoral reform has come under fire from overseas activists and governments, Ng said it was a necessary and crucial step in improving governance.

Ng stated that the Legislative Council was paralysed in the past due to interference from foreign powers and collusion among internal and external forces. The government’s efforts have also been blocked, leading to missed opportunities in terms of taking care our economic well-being and addressing other issues.

Ng called accusations that the freedoms are being eroded in Asia’s financial capital “electioneering”.

The current Legislative Council is composed of 90 members, as opposed to 70 in the past. It means there’s more representation. Participation is now more evenly distributed and will allow all stakeholders to make their voice heard.”