Hong Kong Watch Statement: The Silent Majority Stand for Freedom in District Council Elections

The District Council elections in Hong Kong saw a landslide following an unprecedented turnout.

Nearly 90% of the seats in the District Council were won by pro-democracy candidates. The District Council historically has been controlled by the pro-establishment camp, and so this result sends a huge symbolic message to Carrie Lam's government.

The result is particularly important because in Hong Kong, District Councils are the only entirely directly elected level of government. The next level up, the Legislative Council, which is like City Hall – or a Parliament if Hong Kong were a sovereign country – is only fifty per cent directly elected by universal suffrage.

There has been much speculation about the views of Hong Kong's 'silent majority'. These elections confirm polling that the Hong Kong public want to see democratic change and an independent inquiry into the political crisis of the last six months.

Carrie Lam should take the opportunity afforded by this election, which has been a kind of referendum on public attitudes, to start compromising. She should take steps to meet the calls of the Hong Kong public in order to start the process of reconciling Hong Kong society.