What's new: Hong Kong recorded a surge of newly registered voters three months before the city's Legislative Council election in September. As of Monday, more than 400,000 new voters registered, bringing the total to 4.45 million, more than a half of the city’s population, according to data released by Hong Kong’s Electoral Affairs Commission.
After deletions due to deaths, the net increase in voters was about 322,400 year-on-year. Among newly registered voters, the age range of 41-50 recorded the most significant increase of nearly 70,000 new registrations. Next was the 51-60 group with 57,000 new voters and the 18-30 range with 38,000. Permanent Hong Kong residents who are 18 or older are eligible to vote.
The background: The election this year will come against the backdrop of social unrest since early last year over a controversial extradition bill. Currently, the pro-establishment camp holds a majority in the legislative body, but the pan-democracy group, which opposes the extradition bill, is seeking to seize the majority after winning in district-level elections in November.
The Legislative Council has 70 seats, of which 35 are elected by geographic constituencies while the other half are distributed among functional constituencies such as the finance sector, tourism industry and labor groups.
Contact reporter Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com)
