'Referendum' Underway Over Security Law Strike

Hundreds of people have been voting on Saturday in a so-called referendum which could lead to a city-wide strike to oppose the planned national security law.

The poll is being organised by a coalition of 30 trade unions and a student group and the organisers said 1,100 physical ballots from students had been cast, and 2,000 from union members by 2:30pm.

More than 20 voting stations have been set up across the territory.

Isaac Cheng from the Secondary School Student Preparatory Platform for Action said they’re expecting more people to vote in the afternoon, and urged people to send a strong message to the central government.

"This is a final chance to fight against this national evil security law. so we hope that the students can see that we have the hope to change the conditions now, and we hope the students can come out and vote," he said.

A secondary school student who voted at the Tsz Wan Shan station said he took part because the ‘referendum’ is the only channel for Hong Kong people to express their views on the proposed law.

A woman, surnamed Wong, brought her young child to the polling station. She told RTHK that she supports a general strike, as she fears freedom in Hong Kong will be further eroded in future when her child grows up.

A man from the Hong Kong Information Technology Workers’ Union said he cast a vote because he believed he should do whatever he can to express his views, even though he doesn’t expect the government to respond to its outcome.

Chief executive of the Confederation of Trade Unions, Mung Siu-tat, said that since the government refuses to let people voice their opinions, Hong Kong people must find their own way to speak up against the national security law.

The "referendum" had said they would stage a strike and class boycott if more than 60,000 members vote and over 60 percent back their plan.

The vote will close at 8pm.