What is the Legislative Council in the Hong Kong SAR: A 30-Second Guide.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Legislative Council serves as a mini parliament with the power to create and amend laws for the territory. Nonetheless, electoral processes for this body have witnessed a sharp reduction in substantive competing voices during a period of significant systemic transformations in the last decade.
After the return to Chinese administration, a framework of "one country, two systems" was promised, vowing that Hong Kong would keep a degree of self-governance. In the years since, critics contend that civil liberties have been systematically curtailed.
Key Developments and Reforms
In 2014, a proposal was tabled that would have allow residents to choose the Chief Executive. Notably, any such election was limited to candidates sanctioned by central authorities.
In 2019 saw months of unrest, including an event where residents entered the parliamentary premises to voice opposition against a contentious legal amendment.
The Consequence of the NSL
Passed in 2020, the National Security Law provided unprecedented powers to Beijing over Hong Kong's internal matters. Conduct such as collusion were outlawed. Following this law, the primary democratic party ceased operations.
The Present Electoral Process
LegCo elections are viewed as Hong Kong's primary political exercise. But, regulations enacted in 2021 now guarantee that only individuals deemed pro-establishment are eligible to contest seats.
- Distribution of Seats: At present, only 20 out of 90 seats are chosen by popular vote.
- The Majority: The balance are selected by a government-aligned body.
- Code of Conduct: Additionally drafted standards would require legislators to publicly support the mainland's oversight.
Electoral Turnout
With other avenues for dissent now curtailed, abstaining from voting has emerged as one of the remaining safe ways for residents to express dissent. This has led to record low participation rates in subsequent LegCo contests.
