https://www.scmp.com/rss/510737/feed Hong Kong enters a season of elections from September 2021, leading up to the selection of a new chief executive in 2022. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Several newly elected Hong Kong lawmakers have not fully disclosed their unpaid directorships and those held at subsidiaries, the Post has found, prompting calls from the legislature’s House Committee chairman for greater transparency. Andrew Yao Cho-fai and Lothair Lam Ming-fung were among the Legislative Council newcomers who did not register dozens of unpaid directorships, according to a Post check on their declarations of interest, which were cross-referenced with Companies Registry... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340226/several-hong-kong-lawmakers-omit-unpaid-directorships-legco-declarations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340226/several-hong-kong-lawmakers-omit-unpaid-directorships-legco-declarations?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng At least three newcomers to Hong Kong’s legislature, including two from the city’s largest political party, have failed to declare company shareholdings, the Post has found, with the trio blaming the omissions on heavy workloads or misunderstandings. The three lawmakers are Jody Kwok Fu-yung and Hung Kam-in of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), and Thomas So Shiu-tsung, a lawyer. “I am still a newcomer and have to handle many matters, such as [a new]... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340054/3-new-hong-kong-lawmakers-fail-declare-company-shareholdings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340054/3-new-hong-kong-lawmakers-fail-declare-company-shareholdings?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:33:58 +0000 Emily Hung,Willa Wu Emily Hung,Willa Wu Hong Kong’s incoming social welfare lawmaker has vowed to actively engage young people in policy discussions and strengthen communications with frontline workers to plug a “knowledge gap” in professional conduct. Grace Chan Man-yee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, a statutory body representing local welfare groups, also expressed confidence that there would be critical voices in the legislature although not always in front of the cameras. Chan won the social welfare... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3337654/young-peoples-input-needed-pressing-hong-kong-issues-incoming-lawmaker-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3337654/young-peoples-input-needed-pressing-hong-kong-issues-incoming-lawmaker-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:29:34 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Voter turnout in the recent Legislative Council election was affected by Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, recording the second-lowest rate since the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, despite a modest rise from the previous poll, the constitutional affairs chief has said. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai stressed on Sunday that the government had not set a “hard indicator” for the turnout rate in the December 7 Legco poll, which reached 31.9... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3337216/deadly-tai-po-blaze-affected-hong-kong-legco-election-voter-turnout-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3337216/deadly-tai-po-blaze-affected-hong-kong-legco-election-voter-turnout-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 06:15:37 +0000 Ronny Tong Ronny Tong Hong Kong’s Democratic Party has announced what many people had been expecting for some time – that it would disband. For the party, this is the beginning of the end; for others, the question lingers: is this also the end of the democratic movement in Hong Kong? One thing is certain: the party’s demise will mark the end of an era, one when a colonial pressure-group mentality dictated the quest for democratic reforms in Hong Kong, a mentality which, sadly, was destined to ensure failure of the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3336471/end-road-hong-kongs-democracy-movement-theres-still-hope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3336471/end-road-hong-kongs-democracy-movement-theres-still-hope?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu The dust has settled and Hong Kong’s eighth Legislative Council is getting ready, with new lawmakers finding their way. There were quite a few surprises, looking at the results. With many new candidates and political groups vying for seats, the contest for the directly elected geographical constituencies was highly competitive. Some candidates were fielded by groups with strongholds in the trade-based functional constituencies, which are indirectly elected. That is something we should welcome.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3336253/hong-kongs-political-parties-are-embracing-change-better?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3336253/hong-kongs-political-parties-are-embracing-change-better?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 01:30:17 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s constitutional affairs chief has dismissed suggestions that a record number of invalid ballots cast in the recent Legislative Council election was due to some people being forced to vote, adding that authorities may reconsider introducing “smart ballot boxes” to address the issue. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai also said on Saturday that last month’s deadly Tai Po fire had affected the voter turnout in the poll. Last Sunday’s election yielded a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336331/record-tally-spoiled-votes-hong-kong-poll-not-due-pressure-public?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336331/record-tally-spoiled-votes-hong-kong-poll-not-due-pressure-public?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:02:32 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The formation of the new Legislative Council marks another step towards recovery and reform following the Tai Po fire tragedy. Seen as a milestone for “high-quality democracy”, the second Legco ballot under Beijing’s electoral revamp has further consolidated Hong Kong’s all-patriots governance. The lawmakers must work with the chief executive and prove they can rise to the challenges ahead. Voter turnout percentages – for the geographical polls (31.9 per cent), functional constituencies (40.09... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3335632/new-legco-tasked-pushing-better-governance-city-deepening-reform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3335632/new-legco-tasked-pushing-better-governance-city-deepening-reform?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:15:16 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s new legislature will be the youngest in the past two decades, with incoming lawmakers averaging 51 years old, according to public data. The age is four years younger than that of the current line-up and seven years below the previous batch, which ended its term in 2021. The rejuvenation of the Legislative Council is partly a result of the departure of 35 incumbent lawmakers, including 12 who are 70 years or above, such as the Liberal Party’s 76-year-old Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335647/hong-kongs-new-legislature-be-youngest-2-decades-averaging-51-years-old?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335647/hong-kongs-new-legislature-be-youngest-2-decades-averaging-51-years-old?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:32:08 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Nearly 44 per cent of the Hong Kong Legislative Council’s seats have been reshuffled after four incumbent lawmakers lost their re-election bids and 35 others declined to run. Those four who failed to secure another term in Sunday’s poll were Kwok Wai-keung and Michael Luk Chung-hung of the Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), along with Frankie Ngan Man-yu and Edmund Wong Chun-sek of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB). Following Sunday’s election, 39, or 43.8... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335573/4-incumbents-lose-re-election-hong-kongs-legco-sees-438-turnover?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335573/4-incumbents-lose-re-election-hong-kongs-legco-sees-438-turnover?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:12:06 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. Some 31.9 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council election on Sunday, surpassing the record low turnout four years ago in a poll held just over a week after the deadly blaze in Tai Po. While the turnout rate increased by 1.7 percentage points,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335536/surprises-and-defeats-votes-tallied-hong-kong-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335536/surprises-and-defeats-votes-tallied-hong-kong-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 23:07:40 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Some 31.9 per cent of voters cast their ballots on Sunday in Hong Kong’s second Legislative Council election under a “patriots-only” system, beating the record low turnout of 2021 in a sombre poll held just 12 days after the tragic fire in Tai Po. Almost as soon as polls opened, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he would enlist the newly elected legislature to mobilise support for victims of the fire and implement robust systemic reform, beginning with a motion to be raised by the government... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335532/voter-turnout-hong-kong-legco-poll-surpasses-record-low-2021?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335532/voter-turnout-hong-kong-legco-poll-surpasses-record-low-2021?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 16:19:02 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Three incumbent lawmakers seeking another term by running in Hong Kong Island West made desperate appeals just hours into Sunday’s Legislative Council election, with the race for directly elected seats heating up compared with four years ago. Hong Kong Island West is the only geographical constituency among the 10 where three serving legislators – Judy Chan Kapui, Chan Hok-fung and Kwok Wai-keung – are competing with two newcomers for two seats, essentially meaning at least one of them will be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335530/3-serving-lawmakers-make-urgent-appeals-hong-kong-island-west?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335530/3-serving-lawmakers-make-urgent-appeals-hong-kong-island-west?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 15:44:28 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong’s property tycoons made high-profile appearances to cast their ballots during Sunday’s Legislative Council election and urged the public to fulfil their civic duty. Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) chairman and managing director Raymond Kwok Ping-luen voted at the Wong Chuk Hang Sports Centre in Aberdeen on Sunday morning. SHKP said it had introduced several measures to encourage its staff and the public to fulfil their civic duty by voting to elect capable candidates. The Legco poll,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335526/hong-kong-property-tycoons-turn-heads-poll-urge-voters-fulfil-civic-duty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335526/hong-kong-property-tycoons-turn-heads-poll-urge-voters-fulfil-civic-duty?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 14:22:26 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung More than 20,000 Hongkongers – mostly civil servants – signed up to cast their ballots at new designated polling stations set up to facilitate voting in the Legislative Council election, while fewer than 20 individuals from ethnic minority communities made use of the new arrangement. Electoral Affairs Commission chairman Justice David Lok Kai-hong said on Sunday that the watchdog would review the arrangement of designated polling stations after the election, stressing that no benchmarks were set... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335519/over-20000-sign-use-designated-hong-kong-legco-election-polling-stations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335519/over-20000-sign-use-designated-hong-kong-legco-election-polling-stations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 12:57:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong goes to the polls today with mixed feelings. While grief over the city’s deadliest high-rise building blaze is still gripping the hearts of many in society, the constitutional duty to return a new legislature weighs heavily. The government’s decision to go ahead with the ballot, despite poignant sorrow over the Tai Po tragedy, underlines the importance of the election. As the city strives to gradually move forward, today’s vote will pave the way to further reforms and future... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3335321/city-grief-shows-its-strength-and-resilience-ballot-box?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3335321/city-grief-shows-its-strength-and-resilience-ballot-box?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:45:09 +0000 Willa Wu,William Zheng Willa Wu,William Zheng Hong Kong authorities have made a last-ditch appeal for residents to refocus on the city’s reform and their future by voting in Sunday’s Legislative Council election, as political analysts said public sentiment after the deadly fire in Tai Po would play a decisive role in voter turnout rates. The appeal came as Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong met with foreign media representatives on Saturday. In a statement, the office said some reports had attacked the election and smeared the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335473/last-ditch-effort-get-hongkongers-vote-legco-poll-turnout-uncertain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335473/last-ditch-effort-get-hongkongers-vote-legco-poll-turnout-uncertain?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:17:31 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong’s Legislative Council election will be held as scheduled on December 7, as recovery and rebuilding work from the city’s deadliest blaze in decades is proceeding largely smoothly, a source has told the Post. The insider said the decision to proceed with the poll as planned was also based on legal considerations, as postponing it could risk creating a constitutional crisis after December 31, when the current council’s term ends. “A lot of legislative work also needs to be done. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3334712/hong-kong-legco-poll-go-ahead-planned-fire-recovery-track?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3334712/hong-kong-legco-poll-go-ahead-planned-fire-recovery-track?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 03:42:00 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong authorities have ramped up efforts to drive voter turnout for the coming Legislative Council election, releasing a video featuring a bomb disposal chief urging members of ethnic minority groups to cast their ballots. Raymond Suryanto Chin-chiu, head of the explosive ordnance disposal bureau, made the appeal in Indonesian in the video released on Sunday via Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan’s social media account. “Dear Indonesian friends in Hong Kong, if you are a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333839/bomb-disposal-chief-urges-indonesian-residents-vote-hong-kong-legco-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333839/bomb-disposal-chief-urges-indonesian-residents-vote-hong-kong-legco-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 08:01:35 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee was in no mood for messing about. Pointing her index finger at reporters one October morning inside Hong Kong’s legislature, she sternly signalled for them to get out of her way. “Don’t block my way to the meeting,” she said. “Move away.” Her demeanour seemed to hark back to an Ip of an earlier era – the fiery, hardline security minister who spearheaded national security legislation in 2003 – while others read it as a hint that the veteran politician was about to bid a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333761/hong-kongs-comeback-queen-regina-ip-reflects-50-year-career-public-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333761/hong-kongs-comeback-queen-regina-ip-reflects-50-year-career-public-service?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 01:00:18 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Democracy is a precious gift that Beijing has given to Hong Kong, veteran politician Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee has said in an open letter appealing to residents to vote in the coming Legislative Council election. In the letter shared on social media by Ip on Tuesday, the Executive Council convenor also stressed that forms of “so-called democracy” contrary to the country’s Constitution or Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, would not survive. A day earlier, the Hong Kong and Macau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333295/hong-kong-democracy-precious-gift-beijing-regina-ip-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333295/hong-kong-democracy-precious-gift-beijing-regina-ip-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:37:29 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial From staging electoral forums to extending voting hours, the Hong Kong government is leaving no stone unturned in trying to boost the turnout for the Legislative Council poll. The stakes are so high that officials and candidates have to do whatever it takes to ensure the December ballot has a satisfactory outcome. Titled “Patriots Collaborate for Good Governance”, the series of official forums is part of the government measures to nurture a new “quality election culture”. Compared to previous... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3333086/forums-sign-hong-kongs-new-quality-election-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3333086/forums-sign-hong-kongs-new-quality-election-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu These are interesting times in Hong Kong politics. Rarely has the city seen the government get so involved in galvanising voters ahead of the Legislative Council election. These things have traditionally been the work of political parties and groups. And that is one prominent feature of the development of Hong Kong’s “patriots-only” political system. Before the overhaul of the election system, voter turnout was a barometer of sorts for the election outcome. Conventional wisdom was that the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3332826/hong-kongs-legco-election-should-priortise-substance-over-spectacle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3332826/hong-kongs-legco-election-should-priortise-substance-over-spectacle?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Integration with mainland China and boosting Hong Kong’s sluggish economy have dominated the manifestos of candidates contesting functional and Election Committee constituencies in the Legislative Council election, while those running for directly elected seats have prioritised livelihood concerns, the Post has found. A check by the Post of all 161 candidates’ manifestos on the government’s election website also found that only 38 of them, or 23 per cent, provided English versions. Of the 161... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333002/what-are-hong-kong-legco-election-candidates-prioritising-their-manifestos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333002/what-are-hong-kong-legco-election-candidates-prioritising-their-manifestos?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:30:16 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Harvey Kong Matthew Cheng,Harvey Kong A Hong Kong minister has defended the decision to proceed with a government-run Legislative Council election forum on Saturday afternoon after a candidate collapsed on stage while introducing herself. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, speaking after the conclusion of the debate with candidates for the Hong Kong Island East constituency, said that the 10 forums held so far had achieved their expected goal of raising awareness about the various potential... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332920/hong-kong-island-election-hopefuls-vow-fight-ethnic-minority-groups?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332920/hong-kong-island-election-hopefuls-vow-fight-ethnic-minority-groups?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 08:23:17 +0000 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 Matthew Cheng,Willa Wu,Jeffie Lam Matthew Cheng,Willa Wu,Jeffie Lam Hong Kong will introduce four new types of designated polling stations to make it easier for civil servants, medical workers, ethnic minority groups and elderly and disabled residents to vote in the Legislative Council election, while voting will be extended by two hours to 11.30pm. Beijing’s national security arm in Hong Kong on Friday said it fully supported local authorities’ efforts to combat any moves to disrupt the December 7 election, as the city’s anti-corruption watchdog arrested two... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332797/hong-kong-open-4-new-types-polling-stations-boost-legco-election-turnout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332797/hong-kong-open-4-new-types-polling-stations-boost-legco-election-turnout?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:39:52 +0000 Willa Wu,Leopold Chen Willa Wu,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s No 2 official has said that debate is welcome at government-run Legislative Council election forums, defending the events as he encouraged candidates to express opposing views without resorting to smears against one another. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki made the remarks as the two government-organised forums held on Friday matched the tone of events from earlier this week, with only minor clashes being seen among candidates. He was defending the administration’s “peaceful”... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332754/debates-welcomed-legco-election-forums-no-mudslinging-back-stabbing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332754/debates-welcomed-legco-election-forums-no-mudslinging-back-stabbing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 04:52:29 +0000 Willa Wu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Willa Wu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Hong Kong is ramping up momentum for the coming Legislative Council election, with the government set to host a gala show ahead of polling day and a major developer pledging to promote voting across its residential estates and shopping centres. The government-run election forums also entered their third day for the Kowloon East and Kowloon West constituencies on Thursday, with a senior official arguing there should not be a “single approach” to enhancing voter engagement and awareness of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332597/tensions-flare-over-kowloon-transport-issues-hong-kong-legco-election-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332597/tensions-flare-over-kowloon-transport-issues-hong-kong-legco-election-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 06:16:28 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong is gearing up for a Legislative Council election on December 7, as 161 candidates are confirmed to be joining the race after nominations closed last week. With 5 per cent more hopefuls than the previous poll in 2021, this year’s election leaves no seats uncontested. There will also be fiercer competition in the geographical constituencies, as major political parties have fielded more candidates to run for the 20 seats directly elected by residents. Functional constituencies, comprising... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332398/vivian-kongs-bid-forums-lawmaker-pullout-what-know-about-hong-kong-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332398/vivian-kongs-bid-forums-lawmaker-pullout-what-know-about-hong-kong-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 02:00:17 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities will offer a one-time HK$20,000 (US$2,570) subsidy to more than 200 community centres serving the elderly and disabled to help more voters cast their ballots in the coming Legislative Council election, expanding on an arrangement in place during a previous citywide poll two years ago. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Tuesday that the subsidies would be used to provide transport arrangements to elderly residents and people with disabilities, as well... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332325/hong-kong-offer-hk20000-subsidies-help-elderly-and-disabled-voters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332325/hong-kong-offer-hk20000-subsidies-help-elderly-and-disabled-voters?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:06:55 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong’s economic development and its global ties have emerged as the common concerns in the first Legislative Council election forum organised by the biggest local political party. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) on Monday hosted all 50 candidates running for 40 Legco seats in the Election Committee constituency. They presented their political platforms to the party’s more than 100 committee members ahead of next month’s poll. The forum was held... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332248/hong-kongs-economy-global-ties-main-issues-partys-legco-election-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332248/hong-kongs-economy-global-ties-main-issues-partys-legco-election-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:30:28 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Fewer candidates with professional backgrounds are making a bid to run in Hong Kong’s coming Legislative Council election amid more subdued interest in the sector-based functional constituencies. A check by the Post of all 161 candidates’ occupations found that 45, or 28 per cent, had declared on their forms that they were from professions such as teaching, law, social work, accountancy, and engineering or architecture, compared with 51 from the previous election, marking a 10 per cent decrease... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332058/fewer-professionals-more-district-councillors-contesting-hong-kongs-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332058/fewer-professionals-more-district-councillors-contesting-hong-kongs-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 12:16:22 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The revamped Legislative Council elections have moved to another crucial stage as the two-week nomination period closed with more aspirants signed up for the race. The task ahead is for the authorities to vet their qualifications and conduct a fair and smooth ballot with a satisfactory turnout on December 7. It is incumbent upon the candidates to abide by the electoral rules for a clean campaign and prove themselves worthy of voter support under the new all-patriot governance system. A total of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3331914/legco-hopefuls-must-make-coming-weeks-count?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3331914/legco-hopefuls-must-make-coming-weeks-count?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 23:15:10 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Willa Wu Matthew Cheng,Willa Wu The coming Legislative Council election has thrown up some unexpected links, with several Hong Kong tycoons nominating candidates who are non-core establishment or union representatives, who in turn have backed the real estate sector. A check of nomination forms submitted by all 161 Legco hopefuls found that top figures from major developers had taken different approaches in naming aspirants running in the December 7 poll, the second under Beijing’s “patriots-only” electoral overhaul. New World... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332002/surprises-hong-kong-legco-election-nominations-tycoons-back-unions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332002/surprises-hong-kong-legco-election-nominations-tycoons-back-unions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:41:58 +0000 Willa Wu,Jeffie Lam Willa Wu,Jeffie Lam A total of 161 aspirants with a younger profile are competing for 90 seats in Hong Kong’s second “patriots-only” Legislative Council election, marking a nearly 5 per cent increase over the last poll and leaving no slot uncontested. As the two-week nomination period of the Legislative Council election closed on Thursday, it was also confirmed that up to 35 incumbents, including Paul Tse Wai-chun, who has served in the legislature since 2008, would not run again for office – a record high... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3331829/hong-kongs-legco-race-attracts-161-contenders-nominations-close?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3331829/hong-kongs-legco-race-attracts-161-contenders-nominations-close?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:37:03 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng At least 49 hopefuls have declared that they will run for directly elected seats in Hong Kong’s coming Legislative Council race after the first week of the nomination period, already marking a 40 per cent jump from the previous poll. While an intensified race could encourage residents to cast their ballots on December 7, the absence of opposition candidates could still pose a challenge for voter turnout, a political scientist said on Friday. The legislature will also undergo a massive reshuffle... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3331129/race-heats-directly-elected-seats-hong-kongs-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3331129/race-heats-directly-elected-seats-hong-kongs-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:56:20 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong’s business sector has echoed a government call to boost the voter turnout rate in the coming Legislative Council election by offering incentives such as a half day of paid leave and transport subsidies to encourage employees to cast their ballots. Developer Sino Group was among the first conglomerates leading the drive as it announced it would grant more than 11,000 staff members a half day of leave for voting on December 7 while promoting election awareness internally. “This is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3331127/hong-kong-business-sector-push-get-workers-vote-coming-legco-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3331127/hong-kong-business-sector-push-get-workers-vote-coming-legco-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:30:43 +0000 Willa Wu,Matthew Cheng Willa Wu,Matthew Cheng Hong Kong authorities will take a hard line towards any disruptions to the coming Legislative Council election, the city’s leader has warned, while also issuing a letter to all civil servants urging them to vote in the December poll. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also stressed on Tuesday that there was no “hard target” for the election turnout rate, but dodged a question on whether any government workers who did not vote would be punished. Last Friday, the central government’s Hong Kong and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330583/hong-kong-take-hard-line-against-legco-election-disruptions-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330583/hong-kong-take-hard-line-against-legco-election-disruptions-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:13:24 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng The Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong party has put forward 14 candidates for the coming Legislative Council election, while one of its lawmakers has joined a wave of legislators opting not to seek another term, bringing the total to 28. The party announced the line-up on Monday, as 41-year-old legislator Benson Luk Hon-man revealed he had no plans to run for re-election. Luk said on Monday that the decision was made after careful consideration and discussions with fellow party... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330462/business-and-professionals-alliance-field-14-hong-kongs-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330462/business-and-professionals-alliance-field-14-hong-kongs-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 08:39:30 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Willa Wu,Leopold Chen Matthew Cheng,Willa Wu,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s leader has called on the public and private sectors to encourage employees to vote in the coming Legislative Council election, describing it as their social responsibility. At a ceremony to launch the election process on Thursday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu urged both public institutions and businesses to encourage employees to take part in the poll, emphasising that voting was both a right and a civic duty. “I strongly urge all sectors of society, including various... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330027/encourage-employees-vote-hong-kongs-coming-legco-election-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330027/encourage-employees-vote-hong-kongs-coming-legco-election-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 06:23:59 +0000 Willa Wu,Matthew Cheng Willa Wu,Matthew Cheng There is no such thing as a “blessing” or “special treatment” for candidates in Hong Kong’s coming Legislative Council poll, Beijing’s top office overseeing the city’s affairs has said, after at least 15 legislators decided against running for re-election. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office also said on Friday night that a change of lawmakers through Legco elections was standard practice and represented “the true meaning of democracy”. It said younger, more professional and innovative... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3329448/hong-kong-veteran-lawmaker-michael-tien-says-he-may-retire-ahead-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3329448/hong-kong-veteran-lawmaker-michael-tien-says-he-may-retire-ahead-election?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:26:54 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Three more Hong Kong lawmakers have decided not to run in the coming Legislative Council election, bringing the total to at least 12 so far. Lo Wai-kwok, 71, chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, the Liberal Party’s Frankie Yick Chi-ming, 72, and Chow Man-kong, 44, all announced their decision not to seek another term on Monday. Veteran politician Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said her party would make an announcement “in due course”, and asked the media not to “harass”... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3328811/frankie-yick-latest-lawmaker-say-he-wont-run-hong-kongs-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3328811/frankie-yick-latest-lawmaker-say-he-wont-run-hong-kongs-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:06:21 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung At least three more Hong Kong lawmakers have said they will not seek another term ahead of nominations opening later this month for the Legislative Council election, bringing the total to nine so far. Veteran lawmaker Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, a vice-chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, said on Sunday that he would not stand for re-election. Lam, who turns 74 this month, represents the “Commercial (First)” functional constituency in Legco. The seat is reserved for a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3328703/2-more-hong-kong-lawmakers-opt-out-legco-election-taking-total-8?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3328703/2-more-hong-kong-lawmakers-opt-out-legco-election-taking-total-8?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Oct 2025 10:44:11 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu With less than three weeks left of the current Legislative Council term, speculation is high about who’s in and who’s out for the next Legco. Elections are due to take place on December 7. However, before voters head to the polls, candidates must first clinch their nominations from the Election Committee. To run for either the Election Committee, functional or geographical constituencies, a person must get nominated by at least two Election Committee members from each of the committee’s five... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3327903/hong-kong-must-look-beyond-age-selecting-capable-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3327903/hong-kong-must-look-beyond-age-selecting-capable-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Some readers might not know Hong Kong had an election a little over a week ago. And that’s OK, because most of us aren’t part of the 3,631 voters eligible to take part in the Election Committee subsector by-elections, held on September 7. The election achieved a phenomenal voter turnout rate of 97.33 per cent. The 1,500-member Election Committee had 93 vacancies that needed filling. Nearly 80 per cent of the seats were uncontested. The public may lack interest, but that doesn’t mean the Election... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325337/john-lees-policy-address-must-illuminate-hong-kongs-way-forward?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325337/john-lees-policy-address-must-illuminate-hong-kongs-way-forward?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Sep 2025 01:30:09 +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 Alice Wu Alice Wu Plans for the next Legislative Council are being cemented – the nomination process will begin on October 24, with the current term ending on the same day. However, the same can’t be said for the date of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address. So far, we’ve only been told it will be moved up to September, to make time for the Legco elections. Sources have reportedly said it will take place on September 17 but, so far, nothing is official. That doesn’t seem normal. That being said, just... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3322021/lawmakers-can-learn-cy-leungs-constructive-criticism-government?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3322021/lawmakers-can-learn-cy-leungs-constructive-criticism-government?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 01:30:09 +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 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong authorities have proposed disqualifying anyone convicted of offences endangering national security from being nominated to run in a Legislative Council election or serving as a lawmaker. The Electoral Affairs Commission said a public consultation for the proposed guidelines, which include several changes related to national security, was launched on Thursday and would wrap up on August 1. The proposals were shared months before the next Legco election on December 7, the second to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316873/national-security-offenders-be-disqualified-hong-kongs-legco-elections?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316873/national-security-offenders-be-disqualified-hong-kongs-legco-elections?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:23:40 +0000