Residents of Macau began voting in an unofficial referendum on electoral reform yesterday, despite strong objections from Beijing.
Macau returned to Chinese rule in 1999 and its leader is known as its chief executive and is chosen by a pro-Beijing electoral committee.
The referendum will run for a week and ends on Saturday just ahead of the naming of the enclave’s new leader on Sunday by the 400-member committee. The poll was designed by activists to garner public support for reforms in the territory of 550,000.
“Our goal is to fight for a democratic electoral system,” poll organizer Jason Chao said last month when the event was announced.
As of 12pm yesterday, 750 people had voted, according to the event’s official Web site.
Questions include whether there should be universal suffrage for the 2019 chief executive elections and how confident voters are in the upcoming election’s sole candidate, Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui (崔世安), who has been in the position since 2009. Residents are asked to vote either electronically or at several locations in the territory.
China has hit back at the referendum, with a statement from Beijing’s liaison office in the territory saying that the enclave had “no authority” to hold the poll.
Activists hope the referendum turnout will exceed 10,000.
In May about 20,000 people marched against a bill to allow government ministers generous retirement packages, with many youngsters taking part hoping for greater accountability from their own government.
Hong Kong also held an informal poll on democratic reform in June which saw more than 790,000 people vote over 10 days on how the territory’s next leader should be chosen. The winning proposal would allow the public or democratically elected lawmaker to nominate candidates.
China has promised to let Hong Kong residents elect their chief executive in 2017, but has ruled out giving voters a say in selecting candidates, prompting fears that only those sympathetic to Beijing will be allowed to stand.
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