HKW launches #Releasemycandidate campaign to mark the Legislative Council elections

Today, Hong Kong Watch is formally launching a social media campaign encouraging people to mark the Legislative Council elections, taking place in Hong Kong on 19 December 2021, by sharing a photo with the hashtag #Releasemycandidate. 

The Legislative Council elections will be the first to take place under new rules written by Beijing which cuts the number of directly elected Legislative Councillors, allows mainland residents to vote, and bars pro-democracy candidates from running by introducing “patriotic” background vetting. Almost all of the candidates running in the elections are supportive of the establishment and aligned with the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing.

These elections have already been marred by arrests, absurd claims by Carrie Lam that a low-turn out will vindicate the Hong Kong Government’s record, and threats to prosecute journalists and polling companies. 

To mark these sham elections, which will not reflect the true voice and choice of the vast majority of the Hong Kong population, Hong Kong Watch is encouraging people to shine a spotlight on the 47 pro-democracy activists and lawmakers who are currently in jail and facing a national security trial for organising democratic primaries ahead of the Legislative Council elections. 

Let’s use social media to send a message to the international community that these rigged elections do not reflect the voice of the Hong Kong people by calling loudly for the release of the 47 pro-democracy activists and candidates with a photo and the hashtag #Releasemycandidate.

在立法會選舉前夕，香港監察開展 #釋放我的候選人 活動

今天，香港監察正式開展一項社交媒體活動，呼籲大眾在社交媒體上載照片及加上標籤 #Releasemycandidate #釋放我的候選人，表達對即將在2021年12月19日舉行的香港立法會選舉的關注，以及呼籲釋放47名因舉辦民主派立法會初選而被囚禁、並面臨國安法審訊的民主派人士和立法會議員。

今次立法會選舉將首次根據北京訂定的新選舉規例進行，新的規例削減直選立法會議員的議席、容許內地居民投票，以及透過進行「愛國」背景審查禁止民主派候選人參選。幾乎所有參選的候選人都支持建制，並與中國共產黨站在同一陣線。

民主派人士被捕、林鄭月娥聲稱低投票率將證明香港政府的工作表現良好、以及記者和民調機構面臨被檢控的威脅，這些事態發展都已玷污今次的選舉。

為記錄這場不能反映大多數香港人的真正聲音和意願的虛假選舉，香港監察鼓勵大眾關注目前正被囚禁的47名民主派人士和立法會議員，他們因在立法會選舉前舉行民主派初選而面臨國安法審訊。

讓我們透過社交媒體向國際社會表示，這場被操控的選舉不能反映香港人的聲音，透過上載照片和加上標籤 #Releasemycandidate #釋放我的候選人，呼籲釋放47名民主派人士和立法會選舉候選人。