Lurking Foreign Agents Want Poll To Flop: John Lee

Chief Secretary John Lee said on Saturday that foreign agents in Hong Kong are attempting to deliberately obstruct next week's Legislative Council election, as he urged people to vote in the poll.

Writing on his official blog, Lee said the most direct way to crack down on what he referred to as "destructive forces" in the SAR was for people to go to the polls on Sunday next week.

The chief secretary said anti-China disruptors don't want this election, the first under a new electoral system, to be successful.

"Destructive forces are inciting others not to vote or to cast blank votes, because they are shut out from Legco and they don't want this election to succeed," Lee wrote.

"Actively voting is the most direct way to crack down on destructive forces, and is a must so these forces won't succeed," he said.

He said despite the national security law and the electoral overhaul, many foreign agents still lurk in the SAR, and they are deliberately obstructing the successful implementation of the poll.

The minister said by casting their ballots, voters will show the world that Hong Kong is entering a constructive era by having patriots rule the city.

The government is also working hard to ensure the election will be held smoothly and safely, Lee said.