Chief Exec. Carrie Lam evades question over legality of protest votes in upcoming election
35Authorities in Hong Kong have outlawed calls on other people to cast blank or invalid ballots in elections. Asked to clarify whether casting protest votes itself – allowed in most countries as a voter’s right – is legal or not, Lam dodged the question by repeating that inciting others not to participate in an election or lodging void votes is unlawful.
She said the authorities will need to refer to the law and relevant evidence in each case, adding that it will be up to the city’s independent prosecutors to press charges and for the courts to make a judgement.
“It could hardly be just you asking me a question and I would say that you have offended the law,” Lam told the press.
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