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During British colonial rule, we were not able to enjoy the democratic rights that we now do," declared Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong in a Chinese newspaper soon after the recently held legislative council elections in Hong Kong that saw a very low participation of voters. The polls, he said, were a "milestone to democratic development" in Hong Kong. (https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202112/24/WS61c534b8a310cdd39bc7d44b.html)
This is just one example of the Chinese spin on these elections, widely seen as being snubbed by a majority in Hong Kong.
Elections for the seventh-term Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) were the first test of the 'patriots' law to have only 'patriotic' legislators in the assembly. The turnout was so low that many felt that a large number may have shown their displeasure at having to choose people selected by the state. Unsurprisingly, pro-Beijing candidates cruised it.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam said all candidates fulfilled the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong," while the elections were "fair, just, clean, efficient and humanized." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WydbUrwcrE)
It's a different matter that while only about 30% of Hong Kong's 4.5 million registered voters cast their votes for the LegCo, over 70% had turned out to vote in the last elections which saw an overwhelming majority of anti-China leaders elected in November 2019. The Chinese media was largely silent on this issue. (https://www.voanews.com/a/record-low-turnout-in-hong-kong-poll-telling-blow-to-its-democracy/6366752.html)
Accusations by the West that the elections were a sham were dismissed by several "experts" in China saying "improved electoral system only requires candidates to be patriotic, a basic requirement that is similar to other regions in the world." (https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202112/24/WS61c51bfaa310cdd39bc7d34a.html)
In Beijing, beaming pictures of President Xi Jinping meeting Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, were flashed across media two days after the elections were held. Xi called the new system "good" in line with the principle of "one country, two systems." (https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202112/1243092.shtml)
Read more:
Hong Kong: Pro-Beijing candidates sweep controversial LegCo election:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-59717343
'Patriots Only': Hong Kong's New Election System in Action:
https://thediplomat.com/2021/11/patriots-only-hong-kongs-new-election-system-in-action/