Hong Kong authorities will take a hard line towards any disruptions to the coming Legislative Council election, the cityโs leader has warned, while noting he will send out a letter urging civil servants to vote in the December poll.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also stressed that there was no โhard targetโ for the election turnout rate, but dodged a question on whether any government workers who did not vote would be punished.
Last Friday, the central governmentโs Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office shared a strongly worded commentary calling for vigilance against any attempts to jeopardise the December 7 election.
It also cautioned that local law enforcement agencies would not โsit back and do nothingโ.
In the run-up to the election, 12 lawmakers aged 70 and above have announced they will not run for another term, fuelling speculation that an age limit has been set for legislators.
Twenty-eight members of the current Legco have indicated they will not seek re-election.