Hong Kongers queue at polling booths to defy Beijing over reform

Yahoo – AFP, 22 June 2014

People get information outside a polling station conducting an unofficial
referendum on democratic reform in Hong Kong on June 22, 2014

Hong Kong citizens cast their ballots in an unofficial referendum on democratic reform Sunday, with booths opening across the territory after an online poll that enraged Beijing and stunned organisers with a huge response of more than 500,000 votes.

Tensions are growing in the former British colony over the future of its electoral system, with increasingly vocal calls from residents to be able to choose who can run for the chief executive post.

Hong Kong's leader is currently appointed by a 1,200-strong pro-Beijing committee. China has promised direct elections for the next chief executive in 2017, but has ruled out allowing voters to choose which candidates can stand.

Volunteers welcome voters at a polling

 station in Hong Kong on June 22,

2014 (AFP Photo/Philippe Lopez)

Beijing and Hong Kong officials have dismissed the poll as illegal, but participation since voting began online Friday has already beaten all expectations -- surprising even its organisers, the Occupy Central movement, and defying a massive cyberattack.

On Sunday thousands of voters, some toting umbrellas in the rain, turned out to physically cast their ballot at the 15 polling booths set up around the city.

"I am just acting in accordance with my conscience and this is for our next generation too. As I am not familiar with computers, I came to the voting booth," a 68-year-old retired teacher, who only gave her surname as Yau, told AFP at one of the polling stations set up at an office of a local teachers union.

"People were lining up to vote. It shows that Hong Kong people have a strong desire for genuine democracy," event organiser and leader of the Occupy Central movement, Benny Tai told reporters.

The nearly 591,000 who had voted both online and at the polling booths as of mid-day Sunday represents a sizeable chunk of the 3.47 million people who registered to vote at elections in 2012.

The Occupy Central movement has threatened to paralyse the city's financial district with thousands of protesters at the end of the year if officials do not produce an acceptable proposal.

Beijing has called the civil referendum as well as the Occupy Central movement "illegal", and Hong Kong officials have said the results of the vote -- which runs until June 29 -- will have no legal impact.

China's State Council, the equivalent of its cabinet, said Friday that any referendum on how Hong Kong elects its leader would not have constitutional grounds and would be illegal and invalid, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying also said Saturday that there was no legal foundation for the "so-called referendum".

Tai said Sunday that more "radical action" could be seen should the government continue to dismiss voters.

"If the government decided to ignore people's call, indeed, there may be a possibility of more radical action. I hope the government does not push Hong Kong people to that point," Tai told reporters.

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"The Recalibration of Awareness – Apr 20/21, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Old Energy, Recalibration Lectures, God / Creator, Religions/Spiritual systems  (Catholic Church, Priests/Nun’s, Worship, John Paul Pope, Women in the Church otherwise church will go, Current Pope won’t do it),  Middle East, Jews, Governments will change (Internet, Media, Democracies, Dictators, North Korea, Nations voted at once), Integrity (Businesses, Tobacco Companies, Bankers/ Financial Institutes, Pharmaceutical company to collapse),  Illuminati (Started in Greece, with Shipping, Financial markets, Stock markets, Pharmaceutical money (fund to build Africa, to develop)), Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Women, Masters to/already come back, Global Unity.... etc.) - (Text version)

“…  Government

Let us speak of government. We're not speaking of your government, but of any government - the way it works, how it survives, how it has survived, the way it campaigns, and how it elects leaders. It's going to change.

Years ago, I told you, "When everybody can talk to everybody, there can be no secrets." Up to this point on this planet, government has counted on one thing - that the people can't easily talk to each other on a global scale. They have to get their information through government or official channels. Even mass media isn't always free enough, for it reports that which the government reports. Even a free society tends to bias itself according to the bias of the times. However, when you can have Human Beings talking to each other all at once, all over the planet without government control, it all changes, for there is open revelation of truth.

Democracy itself will change and you're going to see it soon. The hold-outs, the few countries I have mentioned in the past, are doomed unless they recalibrate. They're doomed to be the same as they have been and won't be able to exist as they are now with everyone changing around them.

I mentioned North Korea in the past. Give it time. Right now, the young man is under the control of his father's advisors. But when they're gone, you will see something different, should he survive. Don't judge him yet, for he is being controlled.

In government, if you're entire voting base has the ability to talk to itself without restriction and comes up with opinions by itself without restriction, it behooves a politician to be aware and listen to them. This will change what politicians will do. It will change the way things work in government. Don't be surprised when some day a whole nation can vote all at once in a very unusual way. Gone will be the old systems where you used to count on horseback riders to report in from faraway places. Some of you know what I am talking about. Government will change. The systems around you, both dark and light, will change. You're going to start seeing something else, too, so let's change the subject and turn the page. ”