Polls have closed in Hong Kong on an unofficial referendum in which citizens of Hong Kong voted overwhelmingly to challenge Beijing’s ruling authority over the country and to give themselves the options to elect a new leader in 2017 when elections are scheduled. The vote which closed on Sunday the 29th included 800,000 citizens’ who voted online to challenge Beijing’s authority over the country and to give citizens of the country three new options to elect a new leader in 2017.
The vote, organized by the pro- democracy movement Occupy central for Love and peace (aka OCLP) organized the week long referendum which started on June 20th 2014, is seen as a direct threat to Beijing’s rule which was given authority over Hong Kong in 1996 after Britain gave up its rule. The referendum was immediately denounced throughout the Chinese press and was labeled as an “illegal farce” and “that was tinged with mincing ludicrousness” by a state run newspaper.
“Every Chinese should have the right to vote”, FU who was only identified by his first name told the AFP at a polling station in Hong Kong. “Although people can’t do it in China (vote), we can do it in Hong Kong” he added. “I think the signal has already been sent to Beijing that Hong Kong people are prepared to express their views on universal suffrage”, said Benny Tai an associate professor of law at the University of Hong Kong and one of the organizers of Occupy central is also for Love and peace.
“It’s very clear from surveys that the vast majority of the people voting in this referendum are doing it as a reaction to this White paper particularly because they see it threatening to the rule of law. That’s not negotiating on the one country two system principle, that’s demolishing it”, Michael DeGolyer said, who is the director of the transition project at Hong Kong Baptist University.
The voting was considered a success even though it was hit by what a private United States’ private security firm called the “Most sophisticated onslaught ever seen” in terms of cyber-attacks on polling places.
Only the future will tell if Beijing will keep its promise of elections in 2017 or if it will continue its rule of intimidation within a country that is yearning for Independence.
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