tim's experiment

The newly forged extra connection between the District Councils and the Chief Executive election has, or so we are told, produced added interest in the DC elections. Perhaps it has. But there is a cost to this.

Consider the dilemma faced by an old friend of mine, who lives on Hong Kong Island. The sitting councillor for her constituency is a relative of a leader of his party, and appears to have no other claims to fame. He is neither active nor visible. The rival candidate from another party was young, a woman (solidarity!) and so keen that she had already set up an office in the district and started working on local issues. The third candidate, an independent, was a complete mystery. You have probably already guessed the problem. Which party, after all, can afford to set up offices for prospective councillors who do not yet have a seat and the expenses that go with it? My friend has to choose, effectively, between a Democrat deadbeat and a lively lady from the DAB, a party she would not normally support unless the only alternative was Pol Pot. The interests of the locality are pulling one way, the prospects of the winning candidate participating in important central political matters push the other.

In my neck of the woods we have another version of the same problem. Our sitting member is likable, enthusiastic and has had some notable successes in such minor matters as are accessible to a council member, like flower beds and bus routes. His rival was a lady instantly recognised by my wife as the rather unhelpful lady who runs one of our local shops. We also had a mystery candidate, of whom I know only that she cannot spell. There were three English words on her leaflet: “The Indepednet Candidate”. As you have probably guessed our local star is a DAB man. Mrs Grumpy is from the Civic Party. Mystery Miss presumably hopes to represent the Dyslexic Party. I firmly believe that local enthusiasm and service should be rewarded. On the  other hand the DAB has recently confirmed its status as the political pits with a campaign of racist demagogy over the residence rights of domestic helpers. The party doesn’t suck. It stinks.

I was left with the thought that whoever both of us voted for we were going to be ashamed afterwards. In countries were democracy is not an issue the solution to this sort of problem is not to vote at all. This will be interpreted as a sign of despair at the quality of the candidates on offer. In Hong Kong, however, it is interpreted as a vote against having elections at all. So it is important to vote, even if  you use a pin … or hold your nose … when you actually make the choice.

Still, once again constitutional jiggery pokery takes all the fun out of what should be a joyous occasion. It is nice to be able to vote, but the proceedings are so comprehensively fixed that it feels like voting in an Iranian presidential election.