Jubilee Post News & Views
Special Desk
Pro-Beijing candidates have claimed a victory in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo) election, as the city saw its lowest-ever voter turnout.
The 2021 Hong Kong Legislative Council election was managed rump election held on December 19 for the 7th Legislative Council of Hong Kong.
The total number of seats was increased from 70 to 90 seats, with the directly elected geographical constituencies (GCs) reduced from 35 to 20 seats, the trade-based indirectly elected functional constituencies (FCs) staying at 30, and the additional 40 seats being elected by the 1,500-member Election Committee. Officials argue the changes were needed to ensure stability, but critics say they weakened democracy. It was the first LegCo election since China made sweeping and controversial changes to the city’s electoral system.
In a white paper released hours after election results were announced, China said Hong Kong was now entering a new stage of “restored order” as a result of these Beijing-introduced changes.
But a group of Western nations expressed grave concern over the erosion of democratic elements in Hong Kong’s electoral system. The government says the revamped electoral system will ensure only patriots will be allowed to stand for election and eventually hold positions of political power.
Hong Kong used to be under British control, but was handed back to China in 1997 under a one country, two systems principle. This means that the city has certain democratic freedoms which no other part of mainland China has.
This includes the right to elect its own mini-parliament, the Legislative Council (LegCo) that is a powerful body that not only makes and amends Hong Kong’s laws, but also approves budgets and taxes, endorses the appointments of top judges, and can impeach Hong Kong’s head of government, the Chief Executive.
Its members usually serve four year terms – though the current term has been extended as elections were postponed by a year due to Covid.
