Hong Kong district council election: police ‘to deploy 12,000 officers to boost security’ for revamped poll on Sunday

The Hong Kong police force is preparing for the upcoming district council election on Sunday by deploying up to 12,000 officers throughout the city. This is a significant increase in security measures, with approximately 2,500 officers, including plain-clothes detectives and personnel from the Police Tactical Unit, being mobilised in each of the five police regions.

The aim of this large-scale deployment is to prevent any potential disruptions at the more than 600 polling stations. This operation represents more than a third of the total police force, which consists of 33,288 officers. In comparison, during the Legislative Council election in 2021, 10,000 officers were dispatched, and 7,000 were mobilised for the chief executive poll the previous year.

On the day of the election, two uniformed officers will be stationed at each voting station. Additionally, dozens of teams, each consisting of five to six personnel, will conduct patrols in vehicles within each police region. These quick response teams are expected to intervene within minutes in case of any disruptions, such as disputes, at a polling station.

Elite teams, such as the Counter Terrorism Response Unit, will also carry out high-profile patrols at other strategic locations, including railway stations and infrastructure facilities. Furthermore, hundreds of auxiliary officers will be deployed in each region to perform election-related duties and support the patrol subunits.

This extensive deployment is deemed necessary due to the large number of polling stations and recent incidents involving the confiscation of 30kg of chemicals capable of producing explosives and the arrest of two men found with anti-government fliers. Officers from the cybersecurity units have been assigned to monitor online chat groups and social media platforms for any signs of illegal activity during the election.

While there is no intelligence indicating that anyone is planning to cause trouble, the police force believes it is crucial to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Officers on patrol will be equipped with stab-proof vests and other equipment, such as pepper ball-loading guns and anti-riot gear, which will be kept in the police vehicles.

The decision to include the vests as part of their protective gear was made after an officer was stabbed outside the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay in 2021 on the anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule. In the lead-up to the election, banners encouraging residents to participate have been displayed across the city.

Some officers will begin patrolling around the polling stations at about 10pm on Saturday, with the full team ready as early as 7am on Sunday. The police force has stated that they will carry out random and high-profile counterterrorism patrols at important infrastructure and densely populated areas to ensure the safe and smooth conduct of the election.

This election is the first since the municipal-level polls were overhauled in line with Beijing’s principle that only 'patriots' should be in charge. In recent weeks, banners, videos, and fairs urging residents to participate in the election have been prevalent across the city.

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, has expressed optimism about the upcoming poll, stating that the atmosphere is very good. He emphasised that candidates should focus on competing based on their election platforms and discouraged marshalling voter support through improper channels.

The government has stated that it will not estimate the size of the turnout as it could be affected by many factors. They have also clarified that not voting does not necessarily indicate a lack of support for the election. As a token of appreciation, the government plans to hand out thank-you cards to those who vote. However, some have expressed concerns that these cards could be used by certain residents, such as civil servants, to prove they had participated in the election. The government has dismissed these concerns as overspeculation.