For the benefit of voters who do not speak Cantonese, the Hong Kong government is promoting the Legislative Council elections
in multiple languages, including English, Indonesian, Urdu, Punjabi and other Chinese dialects. However, candidates’ campaign materials are putting non-Chinese voters in a disadvantageous position. The dearth of English-language election materials is not just a disincentive for ethnic minority voters to turn out. It effectively alienates an integral part of the community from the electoral process, deprives voters of a chance to scrutinise potential representatives and bodes ill for maintaining bilingualism as a cornerstone of the city’s success.
One can easily find banners and posters targeting Chinese readers on a walk in the street. Similarly, a recent check by the Post on all 161
candidates’ manifestos on the government’s election website found that only 38 of them, or 23 per cent, provided English versions. Among them, 11 are running for geographical seats, 15 in functional constituencies and 12 in the Election Committee constituencies. Some provided only English slogans or attached QR codes or links that directed voters to the digital versions of English platforms. Some candidates also distributed English leaflets separately.
The predominantly “
Chinese-only” canvassing culture sits at odds with bilingual election promotions by city authorities. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and other ministers have promoted the ballot in English. Some government officials and non-Chinese disciplined services officers have also made their appeals in their hometown dialects and native languages.
The needs of ethnic minority groups are often an afterthought in a city where 91.6 per cent of residents are Chinese, but the limited use of English in canvassing has reinforced the growing concerns that the language is being neglected in this election. Candidates should bear in mind that recognition from non-Chinese speaking voters matters too. With the ballot still more than a week away, better canvassing efforts are needed to engage them.
The responsibility to reach out to ethnic minority and expat voters is as much the government’s as that of the candidates. The 2021 census showed there were 619,568 non-Chinese people, accounting for 8.4 per cent of the population. While the majority might not be eligible to vote, it would be wrong to alienate the community altogether. It also does not reflect well on the city’s commitment to bilingualism if those who could be elected do not set a good example.
The ballot to return an all-patriot legislature should not be confined to Chinese-speaking voters. For many who have long made Hong Kong home, they also need to feel fully engaged and counted.
