Hong Kong Arts Development Council Election Delivers Strong Mandate for Anti-Establishment Candidates

In a significant political development within Hong Kong's cultural sphere, anti-establishment candidates secured a decisive victory in the Hong Kong Arts Development Council election held last Tuesday. The election, which saw a record voter turnout, resulted in eight out of ten contested seats going to anti-establishment voices. This outcome is widely interpreted as a reflection of low popularity for current Chief Executive Leung Chi-ying. Voters hope this result will influence the upcoming 2017 chief executive election by reducing Leung's chances of reelection. The Hong Kong Arts Development Council, which has 27 total seats, holds elections for ten positions every three years. Voting is conducted by registered arts community members and arts organizations. The next procedural step occurs on December 11, when ADC members will vote to elect 15 Council members who will represent the cultural sector on the chief executive nomination committee. The election results were reported by The South China Morning Post.