What to know about Hong Kong’s Legco election

Key Concepts

• One Country, Two Systems: A constitutional principle that grants Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy from mainland China, except in defense and foreign policy.
• Legislative Council (LegCo): Hong Kong's governing body responsible for passing laws and monitoring government spending.
• Functional Constituencies: Professional or special interest groups within LegCo that elect their own representatives.
• Election Committee: An electoral college that selects the Chief Executive and, since 2021, 40 LegCo members.
• Patriots Governing Hong Kong: Beijing's policy to ensure that only individuals loyal to China hold political power in Hong Kong.
• Geographical Constituencies: Electoral districts where members are directly elected by the public.

Hong Kong's Legislative Council Elections: A Shift in Composition and Dynamics

This summary details the upcoming Legislative Council (LegCo) election in Hong Kong, highlighting significant changes in its electoral system and the implications for political representation. Hong Kong operates under the "one country, two systems" principle, maintaining autonomy except in defense and foreign policy. LegCo, the city's governing body, comprises 90 seats determined by three types of elections.

Composition of LegCo and Electoral System

• Geographical Constituencies: Directly elected by the public, these account for 20 out of 90 seats.
• Functional Constituencies: Representing professional or special interest groups, these allocate 30 seats. Members are elected by these specific sectors.
• Election Committee: This powerful body, dominated by pro-establishment members, selects the Chief Executive and, since 2021, elects 40 LegCo members.

The 2021 Electoral Overhaul and its Impact

The December 7th vote is the second LegCo election following Beijing's 2021 overhaul of the electoral system. This reform aimed to ensure that only "patriots" govern Hong Kong.

• Exclusion of Opposition and Centrist Parties: For the first time, candidates previously associated with opposition or even centrist parties are not running. Opposition parties have either dissolved or folded. A centrist candidate who intended to run failed to secure the necessary nominations.
• Limited Non-Traditional Pro-Establishment Candidates: Only two individuals from a non-traditional pro-establishment party are participating, and they did not declare their political affiliation on their nomination forms.

Changes in Election Campaigning and Voter Engagement

A notable difference in this election is the government's increased role in organizing candidate outreach.

• Government-Hosted Election Forums: Authorities are organizing 39 election forums (one for each of the 10 geographical, 28 functional, and 1 election committee constituencies). Previously, these were primarily organized by broadcasters.
• Objective: This shift is part of an effort to generate interest and boost voter participation, as the turnout for the 2021 election was a record low of 30.2% since 1991.

Prominent Candidates and Unique Aspects

The election features some notable figures and unique circumstances:

• Vivien Kong: A retired fencer and Olympic gold medalist is running in the tourism functional constituency. This constituency allows permanent residents with foreign passports to run, though Kong has applied to renounce her Canadian passport.
• High Number of Incumbent Withdrawals: A significant 35 out of 89 incumbent lawmakers have chosen not to seek re-election, the highest proportion since Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. This includes 12 lawmakers over 70, such as veteran legislator Regina Ip.
• Speculation on Incumbent Withdrawals: While Beijing denies involvement and claims no "blessing list" of approved candidates exists, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office suggested that those opting out are demonstrating "good virtue" by allowing new patriotic talent to emerge.

Candidate Manifestos and Policy Focus

A review of the manifestos of all 161 candidates reveals distinct priorities based on constituency:

• Functional and Election Committee Constituencies: Candidates in these sectors primarily focus on integration with mainland China and boosting Hong Kong's economy. Their platforms align with Beijing's call for lawmakers to prioritize public good over sectoral interests and to consider national and international perspectives.
• Geographical Constituencies: Candidates in directly elected seats prioritize long-standing livelihood issues such as transport, healthcare, labor, and housing.

Note: Only 38 out of 161 candidate manifestos were available in English.

Conclusion

The upcoming LegCo election in Hong Kong marks a significant departure from previous elections, characterized by a heavily curated candidate pool and a more centralized approach to campaigning. The electoral overhaul has effectively sidelined opposition voices, leading to a LegCo expected to be dominated by pro-establishment figures. The focus of candidates, particularly in the functional and election committee constituencies, appears to be aligned with Beijing's agenda of closer integration with the mainland and economic development, while livelihood issues remain a priority for those in geographical constituencies. The high number of incumbent withdrawals adds another layer of intrigue to this evolving political landscape.