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Hong Kong Chief Government John Lee urges the general public to come back out and vote amid expectations of a low turnout.

Voters in Hong Kong are heading to the polls to elect new lawmakers below China’s “patriots solely” guidelines, although authorities efforts to drive turnout have been overshadowed by anger over the town’s dealing with of a main lethal fireplace.

Polls opened early on Sunday throughout the autonomous Chinese language metropolis to pick 90 legislators, although solely 20 of these seats are straight elected.

The election is simply the second time for the reason that metropolis overhauled the electoral system to make sure that solely these deemed “patriots” can run for workplace.

Political campaigning for the polls was abruptly paused in late November, after a blaze tore by means of the housing blocks of Wang Fuk Court docket in northern Hong Kong, killing at the very least 159 folks.

Al Jazeera’s Laura Westbrook, reporting from Hong Kong, mentioned “there had been some questions” whether or not the voting ought to go forward in mild of the tragedy, believed to be the world’s deadliest residential constructing fireplace since 1980.

“However Hong Kong’s chief govt, John Lee, mentioned the vote ought to go forward, as a strategy to preserve stability, and that he wanted the newly elected legislature to assist push by means of reforms in addition to make sure the restoration and reconstruction efforts can transfer forward rapidly,” Westbrook mentioned.

Lee had earlier introduced a judge-led “impartial committee” to research the fireplace, which devastated seven condominium blocks that have been present process renovations.

He has additionally urged the folks of Hong Kong to participate within the polls, saying their ballots represented reform and assist to the fireplace victims.

On Sunday, a sombre-looking Lee was seen casting his vote within the metropolis.

As of this week, police have arrested 15 folks from varied development corporations on suspicion of manslaughter.

Police additionally reportedly arrested at the very least three folks for sedition for making public criticism of the federal government within the wake of the fireplace.

Amongst these detained was 24-year-old pupil Miles Kwan, who handed out flyers calling for presidency accountability. Kwan was later reported to have been launched.

Earlier this week, a college within the metropolis additionally shut operations of its pupil union after messages have been posted on campus expressing condolences and urging justice for the victims of the fireplace.

Legislative elections in Hong Kong used to ivolve boisterous clashes between pro-Beijing and pro-democracy camps, with the latter usually successful about 60 % of the favored vote.

However in 2020, Beijing imposed a sweeping nationwide safety legislation after the town was roiled by big and typically violent pro-democracy protests. The primary contest held below the brand new guidelines later that yr noticed a document low turnout of lower than 30 %.

Some pro-democracy lawmakers have been jailed, together with as a part of a subversion case that concluded final yr, whereas others resigned or fled Hong Kong.

Sunday’s race will as soon as once more be devoid of the 2 largest pro-democracy events after the Civic Occasion disbanded in 2023 and the Democratic Occasion mentioned it’s winding down.

Earlier than the fireplace, authorities had blanketed a lot of the town in promotional materials and prolonged the working hours of polling stations.

A couple of third of the outgoing cohort of lawmakers, together with veterans similar to Regina Ip and legislature president Andrew Leung, will not be searching for one other time period.