A Hong Kong government official on Tuesday called for an end of violence to provide a peaceful environment for the upcoming district council election in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
Patrick Nip, secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs of the HKSAR government, called on people with different political views to work together and create a peaceful environment for the 2019 District Council Ordinary Election on Nov. 24.
Nip told the media that violent acts against candidates of the election must stop in particular.
Given the prolonged social unrest in Hong Kong, threats to pro-establishment candidates have been on the rise recently, with their offices vandalized and their supporters intimidated, stoking concerns about whether the election will be held smoothly.
Nip promised all-out efforts to protect the election and the related activities in the coming weeks and ensured that voters will feel safe in voting venues.
More than 4 million people are registered to vote in the district council election that takes place every four years in the HKSAR.
