Hong Kong registered voters not getting any younger as electoral roll reveals decline
Lessening interest in politics after Occupy protests, along with a rapidly ageing population, behind the decrease, political scientists say
Young people’s waning interest in politics following the 2014 Occupy protests and Hong Kong’s fast-greying population have led to a decline in registered voters who are younger than 61, according to analysts.
The latest electoral roll released on Wednesday showed all but two of the nine age groups below the age of 61 had declined from last year. The three age groups 61 and older all showed increases.
“I’m not surprised by the figures. A lot of young people have lost interest in public affairs because they no longer see a way out, and that is also reflected in the number of students who signed up for course related to political science and China studies in university,” said Dr Cheung Chor-yung, a senior teaching fellow at City University’s department of public policy.
The 2018 final registers of electors was released ahead this year’s second Legislative Council by-election in November, which will fill one of the six seats vacated by pro-democracy lawmakers who were disqualified last year for improper oath-taking.
