https://www.scmp.com/rss/318569/feed Hong Kong’s district council election was held on November 24, 2019. The opposition bloc won 392 out of 452 seats, while their pro-establishment rivals took the remaining 60. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Alex Lo Alex Lo As 161 finalised hopefuls compete in Hong Kong’s second “patriots-only” Legislative Council elections, they will have just a few weeks to make themselves and their policy platforms known to the wider public. Some with political backgrounds already have exposure, but it may be limited to the district level. Of the candidates, 49 are district councillors, a high number that is more than three times the 14 in 2021. Thirty-two of them are competing in direct or geographical elections. Name... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3332592/hong-kong-needs-new-breed-lawmaker-steer-its-future-course?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3332592/hong-kong-needs-new-breed-lawmaker-steer-its-future-course?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Kaliz Lee,Carlos Araujo,Matthew Cheng,Lau Ka Kuen,Joe Lo,Jeffie Lam,Brian Wang Kaliz Lee,Carlos Araujo,Matthew Cheng,Lau Ka Kuen,Joe Lo,Jeffie Lam,Brian Wang https://www.scmp.com/infographics/news/hong-kong/legco2025/3330164?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/infographics/news/hong-kong/legco2025/3330164?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 03:00:11 +0000 Emily Hung,Wynna Wong Emily Hung,Wynna Wong A by-election to select members of the committee responsible for selecting Hong Kong’s leader was held on Sunday despite the issuance of a No 3 typhoon signal, with a 97 per cent turnout. More than 3,500 registered voters cast their ballots in the poll, in which 28 candidates from six Election Committee subsectors contested 21 available seats. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu congratulated the successful candidates and thanked voters who took part in the by-election. “[The Election Committee]... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3324649/87-turnout-hong-kong-committee-election-1pm-despite-t3-warning-signal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3324649/87-turnout-hong-kong-committee-election-1pm-despite-t3-warning-signal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 08:38:42 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Electronic ballot counting will be used in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council election for the first time for the 30 trade-based seats, with lawmakers calling for greater adoption of advanced technology to improve voter turnout. But legislators heard on Monday that the technology would not be deployed for the 20 directly elected geographical constituency seats, as paper ballots and hand counting would continue to be used. At a Legco panel meeting, some lawmakers urged authorities to step up the use... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3319050/hong-kong-legco-poll-use-electronic-vote-counting-trade-seats-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3319050/hong-kong-legco-poll-use-electronic-vote-counting-trade-seats-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:32:48 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A Hong Kong district councillor with a record of convictions for traffic offences is being investigated for alleged misconduct by a government-appointed special panel and could be suspended from his duties in the worst-case scenario. Home affairs minister Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Friday that she had appointed a five-member supervisory committee to investigate the alleged misconduct of Kenneth Yip Kat-kong, an appointed member of the Tuen Mun District Council. In May, the 62-year-old retired... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3318789/hong-kong-district-councillor-traffic-offence-record-facing-misconduct-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3318789/hong-kong-district-councillor-traffic-offence-record-facing-misconduct-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:50:00 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, once a powerful opposition force in the city’s political landscape, is a step closer to disbanding after nearly all of the members attending an extraordinary meeting authorised the leadership to go ahead with the plan. Chairman Lo Kin-hei said on Sunday that more than 110 people attended the 1½-hour meeting, with some also representing other members. Over 90 per cent endorsed the proposal for the party’s central committee to “proceed with the arrangements and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3306356/hong-kongs-democratic-party-step-closer-disbanding-final-vote-coming-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3306356/hong-kongs-democratic-party-step-closer-disbanding-final-vote-coming-months?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Apr 2025 12:18:44 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong lawmakers have expressed concerns about a 52 per cent jump in spending for the coming Legislative Council election compared with four years ago, questioning whether the additional resources spent will lead to higher voter turnout. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai defended the increased costs on Wednesday, saying election promotional efforts were “of key importance”, even as he stressed that no turnout target had been set as it depended on “many... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3305837/hong-kong-lawmakers-concerned-over-52-increase-coming-legco-election-spending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3305837/hong-kong-lawmakers-concerned-over-52-increase-coming-legco-election-spending?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Apr 2025 08:29:23 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s home and youth affairs minister has defended six district councillors who did not speak at any of last year’s meetings, saying that repeating views expressed by others would be “meaningless”. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen insisted that all district councillors achieved their goals set by authorities, and believed they had prepared adequately for every meeting. “If [a councillor] raised their hands or pressed the button slower than their neighbour, with their... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3305548/hong-kong-minister-defends-6-district-councillors-who-didnt-speak-2024-meetings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3305548/hong-kong-minister-defends-6-district-councillors-who-didnt-speak-2024-meetings?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:18:26 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong will hold its next Legislative Council election on December 7, its second under a “patriots-only” electoral overhaul. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Tuesday that he had instructed the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau to create comprehensive deployment and emergency plans to ensure the election would be carried out smoothly. “[The bureau] was asked to work closely with the Electoral Affairs Commission to do proper planning and come up with contingency plans on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3302817/hong-kong-hold-next-legislative-council-election-december-7?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3302817/hong-kong-hold-next-legislative-council-election-december-7?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:12:41 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu After the imposition of a wide-ranging national security law in Hong Kong in 2020, the Democratic Party effectively became the only sizeable opposition party left on the scene and its announcement last week of an impending closure has reignited debate on the city’s politics. In reality though, the party has been a pale shadow of its former self for several years now, riding on a reputation built in the past and reeling from the effects of a drastically changed political environment. Still, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3299815/tracing-rise-and-fall-hong-kongs-democratic-party-now-facing-oblivion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3299815/tracing-rise-and-fall-hong-kongs-democratic-party-now-facing-oblivion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:30:13 +0000 Willa Wu,William Zheng Willa Wu,William Zheng Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, once the largest force in the city’s opposition camp, will discuss on Thursday whether to disband, a conversation that its chairman has described as “inevitable”. The party’s central committee would hold a meeting on Thursday evening covering a wide range of issues, including the future of the group, its chairman Lo Kin-hei said at a press conference on Wednesday to present its suggestions for the government budget, which will be delivered next week. A final... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3299230/hong-kongs-democratic-party-hold-press-briefing-fate-hangs-balance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3299230/hong-kongs-democratic-party-hold-press-briefing-fate-hangs-balance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:12:56 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong district councillor expressed regret on Monday after a court fined him HK$1,000 (US$128) over his failure to file a property tax return more than two years ago. Sky Li Tin-chi, 43, pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Court to a breach of the Inland Revenue Ordinance after he was arrested by police for failing to answer the allegation before a magistrate as specified in a summons last year. The Sai Kung District Council member admitted failing to file a property tax return in the 2021-22... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3295526/hong-kong-district-councillor-fined-hk1000-property-tax-form-failure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3295526/hong-kong-district-councillor-fined-hk1000-property-tax-form-failure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:56:50 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong’s main opposition party has re-elected chairman Lo Kin-hei, who has said it is undecided on whether to run in next year’s Legislative Council election. The Democratic Party’s Lo said on Sunday some members faced ongoing harassment from unknown people, while he voiced worries over the party’s dwindling funds. But he pledged that the party would continue to “speak for the best of Hong Kong” and called for the government to be open to diverse opinions. “We hope there will be more space... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3288888/hong-kongs-democratic-party-re-elects-chairman-lo-kin-hei?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3288888/hong-kongs-democratic-party-re-elects-chairman-lo-kin-hei?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Dec 2024 14:55:25 +0000 Hong Kong’s main opposition party has managed to organise a low-key 30th anniversary dinner, albeit with a short interruption by police, after having to make several last-minute cancellations over the past two years. The Democratic Party, one of the few remaining opposition parties, held the anniversary dinner at two separate venues on Saturday evening. Other attempts to host celebrations in recent years all ended in last-minute cancellations from host venues. But Saturday’s banquet also only... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3285917/hong-kongs-democratic-party-successfully-hosts-banquet-after-several-forced-cancellations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3285917/hong-kongs-democratic-party-successfully-hosts-banquet-after-several-forced-cancellations?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Nov 2024 13:57:52 +0000 More polling stations could be set up near the border to help Hongkongers living or working in mainland China to vote in next year’s Legislative Council election, a minister has said. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai also reiterated on Sunday that more IT and technology would be used to improve efficiency in the election process, such as in voter registration and counting ballots. “In the coming Legco election, we will follow more or less the same line of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3284056/hong-kong-may-add-more-voting-stations-near-border-mainland-based-residents-legco-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3284056/hong-kong-may-add-more-voting-stations-near-border-mainland-based-residents-legco-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Oct 2024 08:49:26 +0000 Hong Kong’s first “patriots-only” district council election last year that yielded a record-low turnout rate cost taxpayers about HK$1.2 billion (US$153.2 million), just over 90 per cent more than in 2019 when four times more popularly elected seats were up for grabs. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau told the Legislative Council on Tuesday that the latest cost estimate for the December 10 election was HK$1.218 billion. The sum was 91.8 per cent more than the HK$635 million spent on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3259258/first-hong-kong-district-council-poll-after-electoral-overhaul-cost-taxpayers-hk12-billion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3259258/first-hong-kong-district-council-poll-after-electoral-overhaul-cost-taxpayers-hk12-billion?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Apr 2024 02:00:29 +0000 Hong Kong’s ability to recover from its difficulties would be much improved if it goes ahead with democratic reform. By introducing a system of one person, one vote for the position of chief executive, Hong Kong would have a government with much broader representation, giving it a stronger mandate to push through changes. Universal suffrage is already included in Article 45 of the Basic Law that governs Hong Kong, but no one is sure when and how it might be implemented. Hong Kong should delay... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hk-opinion/article/3257425/hong-kong-needs-full-universal-suffrage-unlock-full-potential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hk-opinion/article/3257425/hong-kong-needs-full-universal-suffrage-unlock-full-potential?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Apr 2024 01:30:11 +0000 The Hong Kong government has named all 470 district councillors to three neighbourhood committees to serve the community, unlike the previous administration which opted against such a move on the grounds that other voices needed to be heard. Scholars said the latest appointment approach was in line with Hong Kong’s changing political climate after the city implemented the Beijing-ordered “patriots-only” governing principle. The government on Monday appointed 2,999 members to the three committees... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3257491/hong-kong-government-names-470-district-councillors-3-neighbourhood-committees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3257491/hong-kong-government-names-470-district-councillors-3-neighbourhood-committees?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:33:00 +0000 Nearly half of Hong Kong’s district councillors are in a race against time to secure offices to comply with a government requirement they establish service points within three months of taking up their roles on January 1. Some highlighted expensive rents as their biggest problem, especially in constituencies located in commercial districts or private housing estates, and a few said they expected to barely meet the deadline. The complaints came despite Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3256563/nearly-half-hong-kongs-district-councillors-racing-against-time-secure-offices-deadline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3256563/nearly-half-hong-kongs-district-councillors-racing-against-time-secure-offices-deadline?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Mar 2024 04:00:17 +0000 Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has urged district councillors to support the administration by acting as a bridge between the public and authorities, calling the municipal-level bodies an “important pillar” of the city’s governance. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), was briefed on Saturday morning on the city’s “patriots-only” municipal-level administration as he met 32 district councillors and community leaders in Sai Kung. The top official is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3253081/beijings-point-man-hong-kong-affairs-tells-district-councillors-act-bridge-between-people-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3253081/beijings-point-man-hong-kong-affairs-tells-district-councillors-act-bridge-between-people-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Feb 2024 06:29:10 +0000 New Hong Kong district councillor Ken Fung Pui-yin has developed a major headache doing his sums after beginning his four-year term on January 1. He needed an office in his Tuen Mun East constituency. He applied for one of 17 public housing flats offered by the Housing Authority to the 32 Tuen Mun council members. If his bid succeeds, the rent will be HK$6,000 to HK$7,000 (US$767 to US$895) per month. If it fails, a private space will cost him HK$15,000 to HK$18,000 – almost 40 per cent of his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3251830/hong-kong-district-councillors-juggle-demands-serving-enlarged-wards-some-say-its-hard-make-ends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3251830/hong-kong-district-councillors-juggle-demands-serving-enlarged-wards-some-say-its-hard-make-ends?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Feb 2024 07:16:58 +0000 The failure of the electronic poll register system during last month’s district council election in Hong Kong was not due to external attacks but rather problems with computer programs that unnecessarily tied up server resources, an investigation into the glitch has found. Announcing its interim findings on the malfunction, the Electoral Affairs Commission on Friday also said more than 2,000 voters were not included in the turnout rate given by authorities right after balloting closed for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3249947/overloaded-server-caused-system-crash-during-hong-kongs-district-council-poll-inquiry-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3249947/overloaded-server-caused-system-crash-during-hong-kongs-district-council-poll-inquiry-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jan 2024 10:26:01 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A 51-year-old clerk has been handed a suspended jail sentence over online posts inciting others to cast invalid ballots in Hong Kong’s district council election last year. Yeung Sze-wing, one of three arrested by the anti-corruption watchdog on December 10 when residents headed to the polls, pleaded guilty at Eastern Court on Monday to one count of engaging in illegal conduct by inciting others to cast invalid votes during an election period. Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui Yee-mei sentenced Yeung... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3249387/hong-kong-woman-handed-suspended-jail-sentence-online-posts-inciting-others-cast-invalid-ballots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3249387/hong-kong-woman-handed-suspended-jail-sentence-online-posts-inciting-others-cast-invalid-ballots?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:44:16 +0000 More than 1.5 million posters and leaflets were printed and nearly 99,000 bunting rows were hung up in a publicity drive for Hong Kong’s revamped district council poll last month, authorities have said without revealing the total cost. The December 10 poll was the first to be held since the government overhauled the district councils earlier last year to align with Beijing’s “patriots ruling Hong Kong” policy direction, but drew a record-low turnout of 27.54 per cent. The revamp drastically cut... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3249196/hong-kong-district-council-election-authorities-say-15-billion-posters-leaflets-printed-publicity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3249196/hong-kong-district-council-election-authorities-say-15-billion-posters-leaflets-printed-publicity?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jan 2024 12:35:02 +0000 In the weeks before Hong Kong’s recent District Council elections, pre-election hip-hooray-and-ballyhoo rowdily materialised around my generally quiet corner of the New Territories. Seemingly endless motor cavalcades drove randomly along the road, emitting a perpetual loop of tinned noise through scratchy-sounding rooftop loudspeakers; other increasingly frantic campaign efforts were easy enough to ignore. Did these mobile performances help sway any lingering doubters? One couldn’t possibly... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3248163/cow-or-bull-dung-ones-garden-will-still-grow-perhaps-same-applies-hong-kong-district-council?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3248163/cow-or-bull-dung-ones-garden-will-still-grow-perhaps-same-applies-hong-kong-district-council?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Jan 2024 23:45:13 +0000 Hong Kong’s revamped district councils have proposed holding carnivals in their neighbourhoods and creating Instagrammable “check-in” spots to help boost growth, but economists and tourism sector leaders remain sceptical over whether the ideas will be successful. Among the initiatives proposed was a Thailand-style festival carnival in Kowloon City, where the Southeast Asian nation’s cultural influence can be felt, as well as decorating the celebrated wishing tree in Tai Po. The 18 district... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3247320/hong-kongs-new-district-councillors-propose-neighbourhood-fairs-and-instagrammable-check-spots-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3247320/hong-kongs-new-district-councillors-propose-neighbourhood-fairs-and-instagrammable-check-spots-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jan 2024 00:30:12 +0000 A revamped district council has proposed organising a community version of the “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign in the shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui before Lunar New Year to boost the local economy. Yau Tsim Mong District Council on Tuesday became the first of the 18 municipal bodies to convene a meeting after councillors assumed office the previous day following last month’s election. The “patriots-only” poll followed Beijing’s overhaul of electoral rules. The planned “Night Vibes Tsim Sha... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3247055/revamped-district-council-proposes-community-version-night-vibes-hong-kong-campaign-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3247055/revamped-district-council-proposes-community-version-night-vibes-hong-kong-campaign-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jan 2024 15:22:28 +0000 Hong Kong’s leader has ordered the city’s new district councillors to support the legislation of a local version of the national security law as they pledged to serve as a bridge between the government and their respective communities during an oath-taking ceremony. The 470 councillors on Monday swore an oath of allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the city’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, under the supervision of Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3246860/hong-kongs-new-district-councillors-pledge-serve-bridge-between-government-communities-oath-taking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3246860/hong-kongs-new-district-councillors-pledge-serve-bridge-between-government-communities-oath-taking?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jan 2024 05:17:57 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. The conflict in Gaza has been quite distressing for everyone and made us all realise how polarised the world has become. It is natural for people on both sides to feel passionate about their own... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3245872/gaza-war-its-us-fight-polarisation-fact-based-views?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3245872/gaza-war-its-us-fight-polarisation-fact-based-views?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Dec 2023 03:30:08 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. Talk on Chinese social media mocking Hong Kong as a “relic” of an international financial centre is outrageous (“Those who unfairly criticise Hong Kong must be put in their place”, December... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3245809/social-media-mockery-will-only-drive-hong-kong-do-better?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3245809/social-media-mockery-will-only-drive-hong-kong-do-better?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Dec 2023 03:30:15 +0000 After Hong Kong’s district council election, the efforts of the government and pro-establishment circles have been credited with achieving what Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu called a “good” voter turnout of 27.54 per cent. But such a historically low voter turnout surely warrants introspection. Beyond an extensive promotional campaign, what else might ignite the civic spirit in future elections? And as we ponder how our new district councils will function, we should also consider their... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3245334/district-councils-must-re-engage-hongkongers-and-reverse-disconnect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3245334/district-councils-must-re-engage-hongkongers-and-reverse-disconnect?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Dec 2023 01:30:18 +0000 Hong Kong’s incoming district councillors should attend at least 80 per cent of general meetings each year and submit an annual work report, the city’s home affairs chief has said, weeks before the officials take their seats on the municipal-level bodies. The local officials must also give formal notice if they plan to leave the city for more than 48 hours, according to new rules revealed by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen on Monday. “The guideline is to ensure our... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3245505/hong-kongs-incoming-district-councillors-must-attend-80-meetings-each-year-and-file-annual-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3245505/hong-kongs-incoming-district-councillors-must-attend-80-meetings-each-year-and-file-annual-work?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Dec 2023 12:57:36 +0000 Chinese President Xi Jinping has praised Hong Kong’s leader for firmly safeguarding national security and steering the district council system back onto the right track, as he expressed Beijing’s “full confidence” in the city’s future. Xi, who received Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for his duty visit in Beijing, also called on his administration to unite society and boost the city’s development by seizing the “historic opportunities” brought about by national development. State news agency... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3245428/hong-kongs-john-lee-meet-chinese-president-xi-jinping-premier-li-qiang-monday-afternoon-part-second?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3245428/hong-kongs-john-lee-meet-chinese-president-xi-jinping-premier-li-qiang-monday-afternoon-part-second?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Dec 2023 04:21:48 +0000 Contrary to expectations, Hong Kong’s district council elections on December 10 were quite eventful. Leading up to the poll, the government went all out to boost voter turnout, even as we were constantly reminded that turnout doesn’t matter. In addition to the ad blitz and officials passing out fliers on the streets, the government rolled out an unprecedented “Election Fun Day” extravaganza. Compared to the blackout periods practised elsewhere, where active campaigning is disallowed just before... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3245277/hong-kongs-depoliticised-district-polls-raise-more-questions-answers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3245277/hong-kongs-depoliticised-district-polls-raise-more-questions-answers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Dec 2023 01:30:16 +0000 The district council elections held on December 10 under revamped rules completes the last piece of the political jigsaw which perfected the “patriots-only” governance structure. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office lauded the reshaped district councils as a key building block in keeping anti-China and anti-Hong Kong forces from participating in district organisations. Among the many other compliments lavished on the elections, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu praised the electoral outcomes... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3245194/hong-kong-district-council-election-why-weak-middle-class-turnout-troubling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3245194/hong-kong-district-council-election-why-weak-middle-class-turnout-troubling?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Dec 2023 01:30:08 +0000 Drones lit up the night sky on the eve of Hong Kong’s District Council election with the message: “Vote tomorrow.” Most of the city’s registered voters, however, chose not to heed the call. The turnout for last Sunday’s election was a dismal 27.54 per cent, the lowest since Hong Kong returned to China 26 years ago. This unprecedented level of voter apathy was no surprise. The election was the first since a dramatic shake-up of the system to ensure only “patriots” could stand. Not one opposition... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3245337/election-apathy-inevitable-when-voters-are-denied-free-choice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3245337/election-apathy-inevitable-when-voters-are-denied-free-choice?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Dec 2023 14:30:07 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. I fulfilled my civic duty by voting in the district council election on Sunday. Talk of voter apathy has led me to reflect on the purpose of voting (“Low turnout at Hong Kong district council... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3244963/hongkongers-still-have-good-reasons-vote-despite-compromises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3244963/hongkongers-still-have-good-reasons-vote-despite-compromises?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Dec 2023 03:30:10 +0000 Following the conclusion of Sunday’s ballot, the government yesterday announced a batch of appointed councillors in the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle to complete the “patriots-only” district councils revamp. Together with a new monitoring mechanism, it is to be hoped that the lower-tier structure will better serve the public. Under the new system, 88 of 470 seats are directly elected by the public, while local committees return 176 members. Another 179 are hand-picked by Chief Executive John Lee... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3244858/hong-kong-council-appointees-must-show-worth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3244858/hong-kong-council-appointees-must-show-worth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Dec 2023 22:30:08 +0000 The government has appointed 179 “patriots” to fill nearly half of Hong Kong’s district council seats with a line-up that includes leaders of pro-Beijing community groups, members of mainland Chinese political advisory bodies and dozens of defeated candidates from the 2019 poll. Tuesday’s announcement came two days after a record low 27.54 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots for 88 directly elected seats, a turnout the city leader defended as “good” while also vowing that the revamped... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244852/179-patriots-appointed-hong-kongs-district-councils-including-dozens-defeated-candidates-2019-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244852/179-patriots-appointed-hong-kongs-district-councils-including-dozens-defeated-candidates-2019-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Dec 2023 14:25:50 +0000 Hong Kong’s new district councils will be more “constructive”, with a monitoring mechanism to gauge members’ performance, the city’s leader has said, while urging residents to focus on the recent poll’s outcome and defending its record low voting rate as a “good turnout”. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday morning also revealed that the government in the afternoon would announce the names of the 179 district councillors he had appointed, and those taking up the 27 ex officio seats. “We... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244776/hong-kongs-new-district-councils-will-be-more-constructive-members-be-monitored-performance-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244776/hong-kongs-new-district-councils-will-be-more-constructive-members-be-monitored-performance-city?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:08:13 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. I refer to the article, “China confirms it is working with US to restore military communication channels based on Xi-Biden agreement” (November 30). As the tumultuous currents of the global... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3244601/us-china-cooperation-vital-stability-southeast-asia-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3244601/us-china-cooperation-vital-stability-southeast-asia-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Dec 2023 03:30:09 +0000 The dozens of patriots who won in Hong Kong’s municipal election that saw a record-low turnout are about to embark on a bumpy road to bridge the people and the government amid the city’s continuing political polarisation and voter apathy, according to observers. They warned that their performance in the 18 district councils starting next year would not only shape the internal dynamics of the pro-Beijing camp, but also affect people’s confidence in an electoral system overhauled at the behest of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244723/hong-kong-district-council-election-can-patriotic-winners-deliver-beijings-expectations-and-be?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244723/hong-kong-district-council-election-can-patriotic-winners-deliver-beijings-expectations-and-be?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Dec 2023 00:30:19 +0000 The revamped district council election is widely seen as the final step on the path to complete a high-stakes governance overhaul vital for Hong Kong’s future. With a new league of “patriotic” councillors successfully returned following a ballot marred by technical glitches and an expected low turnout, the latest journey has just begun. Those representatives, together with the government, have to live up to expectations and prove that people’s livelihoods can genuinely improve under the new... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3244725/hong-kong-public-expects-better-city-promised-district-poll-revamp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3244725/hong-kong-public-expects-better-city-promised-district-poll-revamp?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Dec 2023 23:30:11 +0000 Hong Kong’s leading pro-establishment parties have proved to be the biggest winners in the first “patriots-only” district council election, with observers saying voters had turned to familiar brands and trusted track records in a poll devoid of opposition contenders. The dominance of big parties in the race for 88 seats returned by the popular vote, out of 470, became clear after polling stations closed at midnight on Sunday. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244711/inevitable-hong-kongs-largest-parties-come-out-ahead-first-patriots-only-district-council-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244711/inevitable-hong-kongs-largest-parties-come-out-ahead-first-patriots-only-district-council-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Dec 2023 15:06:31 +0000 Veteran Hong Kong activist Koo Sze-yiu has been remanded in custody on suspicion of sedition over plans to hold up a coffin and stage a protest against the revamped district council poll. The 77-year-old appeared in West Kowloon Court on Monday after he was arrested by national security police at his home in Cheung Sha Wan on Friday, just before he was allegedly about to carry the coffin prop to stage a protest outside a registration and electoral office. Koo was not required to enter a plea... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3244646/veteran-hong-kong-activist-remanded-custody-suspicion-sedition-over-plans-display-coffin-stage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3244646/veteran-hong-kong-activist-remanded-custody-suspicion-sedition-over-plans-display-coffin-stage?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Dec 2023 07:57:39 +0000 Voter turnout in Hong Kong’s first overhauled district council election on Sunday sank to a record low but both the city leader and Beijing lauded the process and outcome, with the central government praising it as a showcase of a “real, functioning democracy”. The election winners should focus on improving the livelihoods and well-being of residents, Beijing’s top office overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs said in a statement setting out five expectations of the newly elected... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244632/hong-kongs-first-patriots-only-district-poll-success-and-real-functioning-democracy-beijing-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244632/hong-kongs-first-patriots-only-district-poll-success-and-real-functioning-democracy-beijing-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Dec 2023 06:36:06 +0000 Hong Kong election authorities have come under fire over a system failure that briefly interrupted Sunday’s district council poll, with pro-establishment parties demanding answers and insisting their candidates have been affected, and other critics questioning the decision to extend voting hours. Electoral Affairs Commission chairman Mr Justice David Lok Kai-hong apologised to candidates, campaign teams and voters at an emotional press briefing on Monday morning, saying he was willing to take... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3244623/hong-kong-election-authorities-under-fire-over-system-failure-disruption-district-council-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3244623/hong-kong-election-authorities-under-fire-over-system-failure-disruption-district-council-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Dec 2023 05:15:58 +0000 The poll may be over but Hong Kong still must tackle voter apathy as reflected in the low turnout in the municipal-level election on Sunday as it can hurt the legitimacy of the “patriots-only” district councils, observers said. Despite officials’ strenuous efforts to get people to vote, many insisted they were not too troubled by the turnout of 27.54 per cent, or about 1.2 million residents, especially when compared with the historic high of 71.2 per cent in 2019 during the height of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244604/low-turnout-hong-kong-district-council-election-will-beijing-be-happy-result-or-will-voter-apathy-be?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244604/low-turnout-hong-kong-district-council-election-will-beijing-be-happy-result-or-will-voter-apathy-be?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Dec 2023 04:00:18 +0000 Hong Kong’s first district council poll after an electoral overhaul ordered by Beijing has yielded a turnout of 27.54 per cent, a record low since the return to Chinese rule in 1997, despite officials, tycoons and political leaders mounting an unrelenting drive to get out the vote and a sudden extension of polling hours. The turnout for Sunday’s poll was a sharp drop from the 71.23 per cent recorded in the last municipal-level vote in 2019 held at the height of the anti-government protests in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244577/hong-kong-district-council-election-voting-extended-until-midnight-after-computer-glitch-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244577/hong-kong-district-council-election-voting-extended-until-midnight-after-computer-glitch-first?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Dec 2023 16:48:08 +0000 Hong Kong’s first “patriots-only” district council election on Sunday morphed into the political equivalent of a tale of two cities. One side comprised enthusiastic voters who shared social media content of them casting their ballots. While another, larger, camp was indifferent and steered clear of the more than 600 polling stations dotted across the city, with many remaining quiet throughout the 15 hours that voting was open. Among those eager to cast their vote was a Taikoo Shing local named... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244575/hong-kongs-first-patriots-only-district-council-poll-reflects-political-tale-two-cities-some-eagerly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3244575/hong-kongs-first-patriots-only-district-council-poll-reflects-political-tale-two-cities-some-eagerly?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Dec 2023 15:11:05 +0000