Hong Kong voters show defiance with turnout for opposition primary

Despite little promotion, more than 600,000 join to select legislative candidates

Voters in Hong Kong line up over the weekend at a polling station. More than 600,000 people participated in the primary held by the city's pro-democracy camp. © AP

MICHELLE CHAN, Nikkei staff writer

July 13, 2020 16:25 JST

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong voters turned out in unexpectedly high numbers over the weekend to join a primary election to choose opposition candidates for upcoming legislative polls despite warnings from government officials and a resurgence of COVID-19.

More than 600,000 people participated in the primary, a sign of defiance amid worries about how the government may use the new national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing two weeks ago to crackdown on opponents.