Letters | Hongkongers still have good reasons to vote, despite the compromises

Post readers discuss the purpose of voting in Hong Kong elections, the reasons behind the BJP’s success in India, and how local libraries can engage the elderly

Hong Kong politics

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 15 Dec 2023

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I fulfilled my civic duty by voting in the district council election on Sunday. Talk of voter apathy has led me to reflect on the purpose of voting (“Low turnout at Hong Kong district council election: will Beijing be happy with result or will voter apathy be a problem in the future?”, December 11).

I believe voting allows us to determine who is best suited to manage the allocation of taxpayers’ money. Of course, elections are often fought based on political ideologies, religious and racial divisions, as well as emerging movements such as those advocating for the environment and LGBTQ rights. However, ultimately, we are granting legitimacy to people who will make decisions about how our hard-earned money is spent.

While there might still be a few individuals who enter politics with the genuine intention of serving the people, even they cannot hope for electoral success having only grass-roots support. They still need to align themselves with a political party or power base.

Hong Kong has experienced troubled times, including social unrest, riots and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. We have finally achieved a sense of peace after several years of discord. However, it will take at least a generation for the wounds to fully heal.

While India is my birthplace, Hong Kong is the place that adopted me and enabled me to realise my full potential. I am a staunch supporter of democracy in its true sense. However, excessive freedom can sometimes lead to anarchy.

I couldn’t bear to witness my beloved Hong Kong engulfed in flames again. Therefore, I find myself compromising with a governmental system that is far from ideal but necessary to prevent a recurrence of the events that took place a couple of years ago.

Hong Kong is a relatively secure society with a generally inclusive environment. I dare say it is a better place to live than even Singapore.

However, people have a tendency to take good things for granted, and sometimes they need to be shaken out of their indifference and comfort to realise what they stand to lose. Unfortunately, Hong Kong and its residents have had to sacrifice some of their freedoms, with the term “patriots” being arbitrarily thrown around.

If being a patriot means blindly endorsing and agreeing with everything the government and its leaders say, then I am far from being a patriot. I voted today because I love the place that adopted me, and I never want to witness its destruction again. Is that reason good enough?

Venkitaraman Krishnan, Lam Tin

BJP’s political dominance is well-earned

I refer to the article, “India’s ruling BJP wins big in state polls but can it extend victory into 2024 national elections?” (December 4).

There are six reasons for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) resounding victory at the elections. First, India is a Hindu-majority country and many Hindus feel aligned with the BJP’s ideology and support it. The secular philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, which guided India for the country’s first 70 years, is gradually receding into history.

Second, the BJP has been transferring cash to the bank accounts of lower-income citizens as part of various welfare schemes. Most recently, the government announced that it would extending by five years a programme offering free grain for 800 million Indians, nearly 60 per cent of the population. Voters are delighted.

Third, every improvement in infrastructure – for instance, the opening of a new bridge or commencement of a new train service – is treated as a significant achievement, with inauguration ceremonies, speeches and a media blitz that celebrates the ruling party’s achievements.

Fourth, as the face of the party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photo is everywhere.

Fifth, the BJP is perpetually in election mode and has built an organisational machinery for election campaigns. There is an event or promotion seemingly once every fortnight to highlight the party’s achievements. Whether it’s the moon landing, the hosting of a Group of 20 summit or a foreign leader’s visit, the BJP is on a ceaseless promotional drive.

Finally, the opposition in India, including the Congress party, has not galvanised to meet the BJP challenge. They lack a common ideology, a working programme and a savvy leader. Under the circumstances, it’s no wonder the BJP is expected to romp to power in 2024.

Rajendra Aneja, Mumbai, India

Libraries can do better engaging the elderly

I refer to the letter, “Hong Kong libraries must stay on trend to win back readers, such as by going digital” (December 7).

Your correspondent might not be aware that public libraries are a favourite haunt of the elderly, especially in the summer when they go there to enjoy the free air conditioning while catching up on the news with newspapers and magazines.

Could artificial intelligence and other technological advances be employed to engage elderly patrons in more exciting ways? How about an AI reader that can translate text as it reads? Or virtual tours of far-off places? Can we bring James Bond to life by creating an avatar, or create a Picasso with the ability to draw caricatures on demand?

The library should find more exciting ways to engage with the elderly.

Edmond Pang, Fanling