EditorialHong Kong election body has to ensure public good always comes first
- Subsector interests should take a back seat in new-look Election Committee that must comprise those who are not only patriotic, but also capable of tackling the city’s deep-seated problems
Like it or not, Beijing is determined to ensure that those who wield political power will not become a threat to Hong Kong and the state.
However, the ultimate goal is to return representatives who are not only patriotic, but also capable of tackling the deep-seated problems facing the city.
Only 13 of the 40 subsectors that make up the high-powered electoral body will be balloted on September 19, meaning just a quarter of seats will face competition.
Some 23 hopefuls have signed up for the 12 social welfare seats, and 24 aspirants in the medical and health care sector are vying for 14 seats.
About one-third of the committee will consist of ex officio members or nominees from designated groups.
The rest are set to be returned uncontested with those standing in the remaining subsectors matching the numbers of seats available. All nominees will have to pass political vetting by a government panel.
The race is expected to be less hotly contested than before. This is not just because the electoral base has been reduced by 97 per cent to 7,900 voters, with many individual voter-based subsectors replaced by Beijing-friendly bodies.