Martin Lee

The Sept. 12 election for the 60-seat Legislative Council had been portrayed by democrats as a virtual referendum on gaining the right to elect all the city's leaders. But the whiff of scandal, Beijing's carrot-and-stick policies, and a complicated voting system favored pro-Beijing politicians.

"I am disappointed. It shows how unacceptable the electoral system is," said Martin Lee, former chairman of the Democratic Party, referring to the byzantine proportional representation system.

In a blow for pro-democracy forces, their candidates won 18 directly elected seats, just one more than in the last election and well below expectations, despite a record 55.6 percent voter turnout, final results showed.

Wary of vexing Beijing and keen to safeguard economic prosperity that depends on the mainland, voters ensured a better-than-expected showing for the pro-Beijing camp. It took 12 of the 30 directly elected seats, up from just seven in 2000.

However, results for the other 30 seats, elected by small professional groups, such as lawyers and doctors, and traditionally dominated by the pro-Beijing forces brought the camps' totals to almost the same level as in 2000.

The Beijing camp took 34, unchanged, the democrats gained three to 25 and independents won one, down from four.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 18, 2004
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