is between east and west in a city where those 2 opposing ideology came heads to heads. dominant cane al jazeera berlin. you can find much more on our website, 0 talk. com as always get older stories late school. the stories were for me and i just i had them speaker in dhaka doha. let's get a recap of the headlines now. they've been injuries during protests in sudan after police 5 gas crowds off in the presidential palace while he is taking place on the 3rd anniversary. the revolution that ended the 30 a rule, a former president obama bashir hammer, vall has more from hard to. we have seen crowds being dispersed everywhere, but there was a time when a huge number of these protesters were able to cross that bridge between capital

and battery and central have to wear the presidential palace without major hindrance. and they spent some time though in front of the presidential palace without major confrontations. there was a feeling that they will be allowed to to, to stage a sitting for a long time. but then suddenly, the police came in with a huge cock down on the protesters, and they were almost dispersed, but now they are still there. of several european countries are imposing new restrictions ahead of the winter holidays out to sea record highs. in corona virus cases, the netherlands has begun a strict lockdown to curb the spread of the arm across variant non essential shops, bars restaurants, along with schools and many public places have closed in the us, president joe biden is considering further measures as cases rise. states like connecticut and michigan are seeing surges in hospital admissions. centers for disease control says on the crown is on the verge of becoming the dominant variant

in new york city. voters in chile costs things ballots in the presidential run off election left wing. gabriel bartch is standing against right wing politicians. jose antonio cath result is expected to be close to 2 candidates, offering starkly different pos for chillies future. at least a $169.00 people have died after typhoon ride, devastated parts of the philippines. dozens, remain missing and flooded. areas, 800000 soldiers have joined rescue workers trying to reach remote areas. torrential, rain and flash floods in malaysia have forced 11000 people from their homes. emergency workers are rescuing the strand to take them to shelters, floods a common in malaysia during the annual monsoon season, between october and march. those are the headlines inside stories next. ah,

the election to ensure all those who love china run hung comb proudly macros the activists complained that the 1st vote under china as controversial national security law. further it rose freedoms by jean argues the outcome will restore stability. so what does it all mean for hong kong future? this is inside story. ah, ah, hello, welcome to the program. i'm hash hm. i had bar. it's designed to ensure only watch i noticed wives as patriots take their seats in hong kong parliament. voters in

hong kong have cast their ballots in the 1st election since the national security law was imposed by china last year. leaders in badge in and says, just like the security legislation, changes of the election system are needed to ensure stability following boss protests, demonstrators marched in their millions to condemn the erosion of democracy, which was guaranteed in the 1997 hand over from british rule. so well, the election, harold and you iraq, or is it a recipe for yet more turned on in one of asia landmark cities. we'll discuss all that with our panel in a moment. first, this report from brit planet jain, billboards all over hong kong, urging residents to vote in an election designed strictly for chinese patriots. security was tied to hong kong held its 1st poll since china's leaders in beijing overhaul. the electoral system. those changes they said were to ensure only those

who love china run hong kong. the new rules drastically limit the number of directly elected seats in hong kong, parliament 4 and a half 1000000 hong kong residents are eligible to vote for members of the legislative council. but their ballots will only decide 20 seats out of 19. the rest will be hand picked by prob, aging committees. the leadership in beijing says the new rules will clean up what it calls any anti china elements and bring com to the once lively, legit suggest in the format for his colony that was in regulation. that way, if you set it that way, you'll have to pay the long pick in on august 2nd. the basic thing, if you don't want that, don't play the game with my pro democracy figures out as of right. the probate politicians are working ahead without an effective opposition. the question is, how many voters turned off by the lack of choice? this 20 year old student who asked al jazeera to conceal her identity, said the lack of representation meant she won't be voting. the boss and the

election and not trustworthy for me now because they can qualify whoever they will dislike and root. can we change every 2nd side also month to what they say for? so actually this is quite huge. there's an meaning of all $153.00 candidates in the selection were selected. priority is they had the concept of patriotism and love for hong kong. what they want is hong kong to be good. early polling data suggested a lower turn out than previous years. but while costing her balance hong kong leda kerry lamb reiterated that the turn out is not her focus. the government not set any target for a voter trainer, right? or not for this election, not for previous elections. because there is a combination of factors that will affect the voter turnout rate in any collection, but it does appear to be a delicate topic. the hong kong government threatened the wall street journal over

one of the newspapers critical editorials in the lead up to the election. and at least 10 people were arrested for inciting others to cast a blank ballot. exiled leaders of the democracy movement called for everyone to boycott sundays election. police responded by issuing warrants for their arrest. brit glenette al jazeera hong kong for inside story. let's take a closer look now at how we got to this particular point in 2019 a proposed law, which allowed the extradition of any one in hong kong to may land china's part protests that was later withdrawn. but millions continued to demand for reforms and more freedoms. in november, 2019 pro democracy candidates one a crushing victory local council elections in a vote that saw record turnout. but last year, china's leaders voted to impose national security legislation on the territories white to free speech and political descent says then there's been a major crack down with the arrest of many activists who have been jailed or fled

overseas. ah, let's bring in, i guess, from london, nathan law, a former politician in hong kong and pro democracy activists in hong kong. tom grundy, editor in chief of hong kong, free press, and from badging, and d mock senior research fellow or the center for china and globalization. think tank . thank you for joining us. let me start with nathan. this is quite a quick moment for both bay gene was. see, this is going to be the way for patrick to take over the destiny of hong kong and for the opposition seems to be very much concerned about the future. how do you see the outcome of this election unfolding? so for now, the latest figure that we have is 3 hours before the ruling closest is only

26.5 percent of the voting rights. if you compared to the 2016 legislative coffee lesson, which it was 43.6 and the 2900, the local district council election, which was 63.7. the difference is drastic. it really shows that people in the law believe in this election and they view really strong. busy to boy quote it because there are just no untrue represented representative for the candidates are being factored by political beliefs and in the name of getting patriot into the election . but actually the government, just erase the force that they don't like tom when you look at the optics of this particular vote, why is it suddenly becoming about voter turnout? a bigger turnout is an indication that people are happy with a g. a lower turnout is a massive setback for the chinese government. well, certainly the government needs the polls to look credible. and you can see chief

executive caroline just a week or 2 ago trying to get ahead of the situation by saying that a low turn. it could also mean that people agree with the governments and don't need to go, but you know, it's being described as the quiet election. a subdued election. none of the color drama carnival atmosphere. we've seen in previous polls in hong kong that team across the city today, basically seen a trickle of mostly senior voters cast their ballot during these newly restricted polls. 10000 police officers deployed 9000 anti corruption officers. and certainly a recent weeks, it's been a struggle sometimes to understand what candidates policies are. if you don't even appear to have manifesto as a learner, social media presence. and i think the only drama we've seen is one who tried to campaign for metro station in the constituency where there's been one for over 3 decades. one candidate, even standing on a platform of no change. so certainly the,

the, the results of haps, already known in terms of their only being probation and pro, stablished in candidates. but the question really is about the turn out now, which is certainly on track to be the lowest yet. and it is by the massive resources deployed by beijing. there's a general sentiment that the pro establishment candidates play to win the hearts of minds of many people in hong kong who remain pretty much concerned about what happens next in the come in hong kong. well, i'm not sure i can we agree with these assessments? so i think 1st of all, the under turn out of the percentage of voter turnout certainly is a very good statistic, but it's also a bit of a valid metric as well. so of course, if it's a high number, everyone feels good. it provides good talking, a good talk for the whole class. but again, i think it's, tom alluded to people vote either because they're dissatisfied with the situation

and those that both certainly we know a handful east are unhappy with the system as it exists today, hong kong. but i would say just as many of not many, many more are mostly satisfied with the direction and are saying, why do i need to vote if i don't feel like there needs to be any major changes? the other thing i would add to, to tom's point is that there are candidates who have very clear positions. for example, calling for an accelerated and greater integration with a greater bay area, allowing for greater talent ability because we know one of the sources for the protest was the lack of opportunity or the perceived lack of opportunity for young people in hong kong. and that is a problem that needs to be solved. i think at least some of the people standing for office, our records have recognized this and planned to do something. okay,

nathan from 2019 all the way to was this particular vote. there's been a campaign to clamp down on descent, which explains why people are sent into exile, or jails are pretty much just silenced. they're not really are willing to move forward and express their views. do you think they're the absence of a vocal strong, vibrant opposition on the street? is an indication that starting from to model hong kong won't be the same. again? was clear that one of the major reasons why people marched down to the street was got more than 2 millions of them. more than a quarter of the population protest in 2019 was the increasing erosion of freedom in hong kong. and also just based government planning, hong kong into just an old and the really trying to city and duncan, we used to know are gone. so for now it's really play that people on not holding.

not because of the sessions with the government. it does not make sense, we get to the government, have been appealing people to go out and vote the level advertisement. and that will hurt in the, to ask them to both. if unprecedented. we've never seen so many advertisement put out by the government to ask people, devote if everyone is really listening, the people is really thing to the government. then they would definitely do it because they know that because i'm a need for said of hong kong having a successful election to prove that. oh, that is indeed an enhancement in our system. but the reality is people do not agree with that of the 27. 19 we've seen the implementation of the national, the curriculum election overall, which makes our total election a direct election the increase from around house to less than a quarter. and these are really sorry, so turning hong kong to author, attack city and people use a death beat to prove to say that we,

we are fed up. we're not going to vote to lend any legitimate the, to the government. so i think the estimate clear people do not agree with the russian of the city. do not agree with those other a, tearing erosion off of our system and they are not voting. tom, don't you see that the debate about the outcome of the election becomes a moot point in the sense that since you have the legislation or over the whole where the proportion of the legislator to be directly elected has been slash from $53.00 all the way towards $22.00 and then the 40 out of the 90 seats are of candidates who are definitely going to be screened more by their committee, which is lawyers to the establishment in beijing. so by the end of the day, the outcome will definitely be what china expects to happen. right? so the voting power of regular citizens has been hot, as you say, there are 40 seats chosen by a probation committee. and on top of that,

you've got another 30 seats that a special interest groups, corporations, even foreign banks, some of them state own, but actually get a vote today was hong kong is becoming more disenfranchised as much as there has been some suggestion that there may be some choice of candidates here, the fact is that all 153 have been vetted now. since this revamp by several layers of probation committees. and each candidate has undergone a national security pro. now, despite what mr. mark said about those who have abstain from voting today for all of those we've spoken to said because, you know, the, the democrats, they usually vote and some, this is the 1st election. they've not voted in. i just not here. most pro democracy figures are behind bars on demand, or then self exile abroad, like nathan or bond from running in the selection or they quit politics altogether . andy,

are the chief executive carry lamb and the pro establishment candidates are saying basically that the fundamental about this election is the fact that it was stores stability back to hong kong. this slogan that stability is a top priority. do you think that this is something you can easily sell to the people of hong kong? i think it can be people on call. so i think one of the hallmarks of hong kong is pragmatism. and i want to back here that, believe it or not, i actually agree with nathan in that i think the hong kong government is perhaps obsessing a bit with this election participation rate. and again, i think of it as a vanity metrics. if you're running internet business, you love to see certain numbers, they sound great, but you, they really matter. and 1st of all, i want to say, let's look at these protests again. i think some of the causes root causes are very

legitimate. but if we look around the world, what have protests delivered from the color revolutions to the black lives matter movement in the united states, of course are called attention to some problem. but on overall, i think they were destructive the positive. so the question here we have to ask ourselves, is, why do we even have a place versus the state of anarchy wise and self help? well, we can government the monopoly that violates because it can deliver a better lives for the citizens of that particular country. so i think that this really is the metric that matters involve governments, especially hong kong, because i think the, the how could ministration watson way to have it both ways. it was real prosperity and stability for hong kong to be a part of the p r. c. but it also was the recognition and the praise from the west as well. so i think this is the obsession. perhaps with voter turnout is

understandable and it be great if they can get it, but 25 percent thought a bad number. and i think other metrics, not more. nathan, or how do you see those democracy palsy macros candidates. her said, you know it with think there is an opening here. are wiggle room for maneuvering by joining these elections because if we get elected, we will fight for the rights of people to be freed for people such as yourself, to be allowed back into their homes with dignity. how do you see that justification? what a simple answer is you can never do it because of her now is just using all their resources to crack down all. ready the different boys, even they get into the legislation, then unable to speak up as strong as before. and for now, even if there are a few of them getting into council with about a few out of 90,

lots of faces in toto. this is a rough stamp chain for us. we all know and our protest in 2900, they're not looking for an ocoee. they're not looking for the spend money on the government. they're looking for waging to keep their promises, which they get from people in 1997 about autonomy, democracy and freedom. and i think, even though you can have different opinion towards what the protests of what that effect ah, but in, in its assets, people are seeking for the system that can represent them. government elected by them. and these are fundamentals of the one country to system. so for me, it's clear that the government that i'm calling trying to government now is became a high rates to lend a legitimacy to election reform to ease implementation of the national security at all. and the hong kong citizens, the santa clara,

the not falling into that line. so if we compare to the final rate, which we still don't have that one. yes. but we will assume, oh roughly predict that it was around 30 percent of it. if you compared to 2019 turn out rate, which eventually it was 71 percent it much less that half of the people voted into 19 came out today and it says really strong. sec, no, it is a meaningful indicator, and it is a passive resistance of the whole of the hong kong people saying that we're not alone into your so called enhancement narrative. hong kong is not looking good and you're just turning hong kong to another ordinary china city. tom, we might spend quite some time talking about the metrics here, comparing the voter turnout 209201620022002000 sorry, but ultimately to model when the people of hong kong will wake up to the outcome of

the elections, don't you see that the fundamental element here is at all those hopes about universal suffrage elections that are vibrant. following the 1997, a hand over from the british rule are forever shattered. and that people in hong kong would have to forget about those dreams and ball forward with a system which is modeled around the chinese system you. oh yes, i mean with most po, democracy figures behind bars. it is difficult to imagine the likes of the umbrella movement in 2014 or the rest in 2019 happening again over 50 civil society groups, including decades old unions and those that organized the huge july 1st democracy marches of the tenement square vigils have been disbanded and on this national turn, as i mean, i agree with mister mock somewhat, that the government have really gone to town. we've emphasizing this in huge

spending, as nathan said on our banners everywhere trying to get a vote house. and some of these incentives that have been put on today. covey tracing actually used to using here, been suspended in polling stations, special cues for the elderly borders own stations. so people can nip over the border if they're eligible for from china to vote. even some setup and counting sensors. and one thing they've been doing that a piece of backfired somewhat is free travel and transport on buses on trans, on the metro. and a lot of those he spoke to today or hiking, will shopping. and already you seeing the blame game begin now with some candidates, claiming that free transport scheme, or what they see is a lack of promotion for, for this turn out situation that's destined to be the lowest yet. andy, i was going to ask you a question about what's next for china, because it seems that after they introduced the security reform after they

introduced the election reform, this still struggling with selling the election to the international community to the point where the chief executive carry lab was, was basically saying, you know what, you have to model people, decide not to vote in large numbers. you should just take it as a positive signal because it genuine democracy is people when they are happy with a government. there is a voter apathy that does not really sink in with a rational because people say, you know what, people don't seem to buy into the rhetoric and the narrative of the chinese government. well, i think the, the challenge that the hoko government faces in want recognition from the west is to a degree or something, the china with light as well. so i think there is an interest in the elections in hong kong going well and being seen as go. but i'm going to go back to nathan about turning hong kong into just another chinese study. so shinji is

a chinese in the 40 to past 40 years, it's per capita g, d p increased 10000 times. so that means if you were making $10000.00 a year, you'd be making a $100000000.00 a year. now of course, there's much more life than just nomics, but that doesn't sound so bad to become just another hong kong city. the other point i want to respond to that made to me was that he feels that the hung clowers are losing the right of representation. but let's look at the numbers. ledge goes going from 70 to 90 feet. that's an increase. and also we need to ask even more basic question, why do people. ready need to be represented, it's because again, so their government can deliver the goods that they need for a prosper, stable and st. right? so if the government is doing this through a single party system, or even a monarchy and the people were happy, why do you need our position voices again?

i mean, this is, i tried to, but i'm just posing service until you're not active. but on the i'm in, but still by the end of the day. but we are we talking about people who have been silent, center j people have been sent into exile. and these people are basic to think if you, if you, if you're saying is the wife, then why is the government not allowing these people just to express their views? you know that in a place like home ca give you tell people not to vote in the elections. you're rich to spend some time behind bio. let me go to it. and for this question is an of the same time when you're talking about those concerns, you know that the international community has lost leverage when it comes to china . for someone like yourself, for the thousands of people had been disillusioned, have been evicted to have been sent behind. bars to have lost the right to express their views. we have to be at the same time, practical and realistic. the opposition is divider than ever. what's your road map

for the future? mr. moore has been confusing a lot of different contexts when we're talking about one containing to just an ordinary trying to city. we're talking about it's political system. which difference of whole complex system compared to the trends. one is guaranteed under the one country to see some principle which china has find the interactive treaty to deliver it. and if you are talking about wine, that is the way to go, then you are saying that try not violate international treaty is fine. as long as they want to do so, i think this is not the best narrative to support the agenda. and if you're talking about the election, while the increase of seat does not matter because the all the seats are going through the pocket, the chinese can it's party it well, much more appointed seat basically than popular contest seats. and we've only got $29.00 to come back to $55.00 out of 70. these are just not an improvement. if

we're talking position camp for now, i don't thing with it. i think the united unfortunately with that we'll definitely visit the issue of hong kong in the near future. nathan lot, tom grundy and andy buck. i really appreciate your insight and look forward to talking to you in the near future and thank you for watching. you can see the program again any time by visiting our website under the law dot com for further discussion. go to our facebook page, thus facebook dot com forward slash a site for you can also join the compensation, twitter our hand, that is ga inside 40 for me. how about and the entire team here in the mike, one of the ah

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blue. this is al jazeera ah. on have them think of this is the news i live from are coming up in the next 60 minutes. i huge crowds take to the streets in today and mocking the anniversary of an uprising for democracy, new law downs and travel restrictions as the arm across various spreads across the globe.