Let’s be honest: the narrative going into this Legislative Council election was bleak. Following the tragedy of the Tai Po fire, the pundits were out in force, predicting a turnout that would "definitely be lower than the last one." They claimed the heavy atmosphere hanging over society made a final promotional push impossible. Even the six major chambers of commerce had to scrap their voting discount campaign, further dampening the mood. The critics said it was over before it began.
But the numbers tell a different story: turnout has actually surpassed the previous election. This proves the SAR government didn't just weather the storm—they met the difficulties head-on and played a strong game against the odds.
What we witnessed here was the sheer, united mobilization of the civil service. It was more than bureaus and departments going through the motions to promote the vote; the civil servants themselves showed up. The evidence is undeniable: look at the bureaus coming out in full force with a shared mindset.
Dedication in Action: Civil servants wait in long queues at the designated polling station
If you want proof of commitment, look at the Civil Servant Designated Polling Stations (CSDPS). At their peak, these stations saw massive queues with wait times stretching up to two hours. Yet, the civil servants in line weren't complaining. That silence speaks volumes—it shows a team united in heart, contributing significant strength to secure the legitimacy of this election.
Logistics Win Votes
The tactical adjustments to the schedule played a massive role in this success. By opening the polls an hour early and keeping them open an hour later, the government captured the demographic that critics usually write off: commuters working long hours and travelers returning to Hong Kong. When you see that evening spike in turnout, it’s clear evidence that residents returning from the Chinese Mainland went straight to the ballot box.
The infrastructure expansion was equally critical. The government set up new "Near Boundary Polling Stations" (NBPSs) at the airport and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, deployed outreach stations for care homes, and established dedicated lines for medical staff. These weren't just gestures; they successfully converted citizens who originally found travel inconvenient—or had no intention to vote—into active participants.
Consider the granular handling of the situation near Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Despite the chaos of the fire forcing three polling stations to relocate, the government didn't leave residents stranded—they rolled out shuttle buses. Media interviews with fire victims confirm they used these shuttles, explicitly stating they had received government aid and viewed the new Legislative Council as vital for their future help.
The takeaway is clear: the government successfully tethered the election to the path of post-disaster reconstruction, convincing citizens that selecting new councilors is their fastest ticket back to normalcy.
An insider concluded sharply: where there is a will, there is a way. Through disciplined unity and hard work, the SAR government fought this tough election battle—and won.
Ariel
** 博客文章文責自負,不代表本公司立場 **
The National Security Department of the Police Force launched an enforcement operation on October 6. Officers arrested a man and a woman in Kwun Tong District and Tsim Sha Tsui District respectively, both aged 38.
The arrested persons are suspected of violating Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, namely the offence of "doing an act with a seditious intention." Sources indicate that the arrested man is Wong Ka-ho, a former member of the localist group "North District Dynamic." The other arrested person is his girlfriend.
It is understood that during the black violence period, someone set up a social media page named "YellowInsurance," covering platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. While promoting insurance business, the page repeatedly published posts supporting the black violence and expressing solidarity with "brothers and sisters."
It also spread messages smearing the Central Authorities and the SAR Government, promoting "Hong Kong independence," and attempting to incite public hatred toward the Central Authorities and the SAR Government.
After the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, this page shifted to continuously inciting through "soft resistance" tactics. It used hashtags or so-called "acrostic poems" and other obscure "edge ball" forms to disseminate anti-China and pro-riot messages and incite "Hong Kong independence." It also promoted the black violence song "Glory to Hong Kong," various yellow shops, and participation in the "yellow economic circle" mobile application "Punish Mee," in an attempt to imperceptibly poison the general public.
Using hashtags or so-called "acrostic poems" and other obscure forms to disseminate messages. (Online image)
The page involved claimed that it could arrange various types of insurance for customers, yet did not disclose the identity of the person in charge or the relevant licence status. An insider's analysis pointed out that this operating method lacked transparency.
The page imitated the operating model of the "yellow economic circle" and hinted in its posts that it was run by anti-government "yellow people," thereby using the political halo to attract yellow-camp consumers to take out insurance through its platform and earn insurance commissions for profit.
Sources say the two arrested individuals are suspected of managing these pages. Wong Ka-ho claimed to work as a financial adviser at a local investment company and holds an insurance intermediary licence. The arrested girlfriend does not work in the insurance industry and does not hold an insurance intermediary licence, and is suspected of having been instigated by Wong Ka-ho to help manage social media.
Under the Insurance Ordinance, selling insurance without a licence or taking part in related regulated activities is a criminal offence. That includes making applications or providing advice on insurance contracts.
Founded in 2015, "North District Dynamic" repeatedly launched and joined protests against parallel traders. Wong Ka-ho was active in those activities and ran in the District Council election that same year for "North District Dynamic", but the pro-democracy camp at the time accused him of "splitting the vote".
In November 2016, Wong and several former members of Demosisto and the League of Social Democrats joined a march against the NPC's interpretation of the Basic Law. He was later arrested for surrounding the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government building and throwing hard objects at police.
In March 2020, Wong Ka-ho and Lui Chi-hang, one of those convicted in the "35+ subversion case", went to MTR Fanling Station to disrupt a signature street booth organized by citizens in "support of Article 23 legislation". The move triggered a pushing and shoving incident involving more than 20 people from both sides.
Reports at the time said Wong and his associates livestreamed the process online during the incident and afterwards shared photos of their own injuries online to court sympathy, and were accused of premeditation.
The "yellow economic circle" broadly refers to the economic activities of so-called "mutual support among brothers and sisters" initiated by some anti-China, destabilizing elements after the 2019 black violence. A senior figure pointed out that in essence it is about amassing wealth by inciting hatred and social confrontation, which both endangers national security and damages Hong Kong's economy and prosperity and stability.
After the Hong Kong National Security Law took effect, the forces concerned still hide in the community, poisoning the public through "soft resistance" to seek private gain, planting major hidden dangers for Hong Kong's long-term stability and prosperous development.
According to records, many people who took part in anti-government activities during the 2019 black violence hoped to profit through the "yellow economic circle".
For example, Chu Kong-wai is suspected of promoting MPF schemes without an MPF intermediary licence. He marketed MPF consolidation schemes on social platforms and through other channels as a "financial adviser", calling on "brothers and sisters" to let his team manage their MPF accounts and claiming they could obtain ideal returns. He was criticized for disregarding clients' potential financial losses.
Chu was attached to Manulife senior branch manager Lee Chun-wah. Before entering the insurance industry, Lee had been a male PE teacher at a secondary school, during which time he associated with a 14-year-old underage girl and once sat on the back of a half-naked girl to take photos, involving indecency toward an underage girl.
He was later revealed to possess nearly a hundred pornographic photos and videos of another girl at the school. He was ultimately convicted on two counts of committing indecent acts against a child under 16 and possession of child pornography.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung mentioned in a radio program a few days ago that Hong Kong currently still faces four major national security risks. They include smearing by external forces, local terrorist activities, those who have absconded overseas continuing to advocate "Hong Kong independence", and hidden "soft resistance". He said bluntly that the most evil thing is "soft resistance", because it may not be very obvious.
The expert points out that this case proves the national security risks from "soft resistance" still exist. The acts in the case are suspected of violating "doing an act with a seditious intention," a serious offence that carries a maximum penalty of 7 years' imprisonment on first conviction.
The expert believes the police will continue to ensure that laws are observed and strictly enforced and that lawbreakers are prosecuted. The force will effectively prevent, stop and punish any acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law.
