It's a tough race to keep voters in HK

It's great to organize fun fairs, concerts or even drone shows to arouse people's interest in the upcoming district council elections.

The aim is to keep voters in Hong Kong on polling day, December 10.

But this could be a challenge since local residents are becoming used to a new normal that sees them going to Shenzhen at weekends, not only to eat and entertain but also to return to the SAR with bags full of groceries.

Government officials have been trying to play down the significance of a high turnout, even as they try to achieve one.

But it cannot be clearer that they are rather concerned since a high turnout rate would imply greater legitimacy for the political reform that has greatly slashed the number of directly elected seats from 452 to just 88 in the district bodies.

As Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the festive activities to be held on the eve of the vote, he failed to mention a major event that may be more effective in keeping thousands of voters in the city on polling day: the renowned Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin race course.

This will be the biggest meeting in the Hong Kong Jockey Club's horse racing calendar.

With a whopping prize money of HK$118 million to be shared by the winners and participating horses from around the world, this is an essential global event for punters.

I couldn't help laughing at the suggestion that this mega horse racing event might dampen turnout for the election.

On the contrary, it will help beat the major challenge of people going north to shop rather than staying in the SAR to vote.

Apart from people's interest in the election, everything possible should be done to keep them around so that, even if they were not in the mood to vote in the morning, they could still change their minds and vote in the afternoon or evening.

Officials could also take it further and set up voting booths outside betting centers.

It is in Hong Kong's interest to run the Longines Hong Kong Cup, Mile, Sprint and Vase races as scheduled if the city is to demonstrate to the world the quality of being an international city that central government officials - including Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office director Xia Baolong - have been trying hard to impress upon foreign investors.

It could also help if the fun fairs and concert planned for December 9 could be extended by another day to help keep voters in the SAR.

Meanwhile, candidates should be blamed for running campaigns less vigorously than before.

Consider Yau Tsim Mong South.

With six candidates, the constituency is already one of the most contested. Yet, except for one or two candidates from ethnic minority groups, others were barely seen catching up with voters before or after work and their election leaflets were given out by supporters only.

Where have the candidates gone?

Unless they campaign hard to whip up enthusiasm, the help provided by fun fairs, concerts or even horse races will be limited.