Opinion | Hong Kong’s upcoming election offers the prospect of a revitalised Legislative Council

In less than a month’s time, voters will go to polls to elect their representatives to Hong Kong’s seventh Legislative Council. This will set Hong Kong on the right track of “one country, two systems” and is a chance for “Asia’s world city” to thrive again. Given the challenges facing the city, this is an important milestone in the governance of Hong Kong.

These elections will be very different from what we have experienced in the past 30-odd years. Sadly, Hong Kong’s political environment had deteriorated badly. The opposition was uncooperative and disruptive in conducting Legco business.

The deterioration began with the illegal so-called Occupy Central movement of 2014. And the situation further worsened in 2019 during the riots against the proposed extradition legislation. Such a political environment had the very undesirable effect of deterring capable, competent and dedicated people from serving the community in public office.

To curb the worsening situation, the central government promulgated the national security law in 2020, and the National People’s Congress decided to improve our electoral system by ensuring patriots would administer Hong Kong according to the true spirit of “Hong Kong people running Hong Kong” and a “high degree of autonomy”.

A total of 153 candidates are running for the 90 (expanded from 70) seats representing different constituencies. Against all sceptics’ predictions, there will be keen competition in every constituency.