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Legislative Council of Hong Kong

Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council of Hong Kong is made up of 70 members who debate and pass bills. Half of the Legco members are directly elected by voters in geographical constituencies and the remaining 35 members are returned by 29 functional constituencies.  The next elections will be held in September 2020.
The statutory minimum wage is currently HK$42.10 per hour. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s minimum wage set to rise by HK$1 per hour to HK$43.10

Exco backs Minimum Wage Commission’s suggested 2.38 per cent increase.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Letters | Meaningful direct access to physiotherapy is still elusive

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Legco must exercise due diligence against the tyranny of KPIs

Hong Kong politics

Are Hong Kong lawmakers also to blame over seat belt law blunder?

Government’s flip-flopping on mandatory seat belts aboard buses is wake-up call for legislators to scrutinise bills more rigorously, experts say.

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Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee (front centre) with the latest cohort of lawmakers at the Legislative Council building on January 1. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong plans to revive privacy law requiring firms to report data breaches

Privacy Commissioner Ada Chung says watchdog intends to consult lawmakers this year after legislative reform was put on hold in 2024.

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong authorities repeal ‘flawed’ bus seat belt law

Rule sparked complaints over uncomfortable restraints, hygiene risks and fears that unbuckling early before alighting would violate law.

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Hong Kong transport

Letters | Just how risky is riding a bus in Hong Kong? Let’s do the maths

Readers discuss the odds of bus accidents, practical implementation of seat belt regulations, and the importance of user acceptance testing.

A student tugs at a seat belt on a double-decker bus in Tuen Mun on January 26. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong to consider HK$3,000 fixed penalty for smoking on construction sites

Government earlier proposed maximum fine of HK$150,000.

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Hong Kong society

Dogs to be allowed in up to 1,000 Hong Kong restaurants under new scheme

Authorities aim to submit proposal within first quarter and approve initial batch of dog permits by June.

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Hong Kong politics

Editorial | Valuable lessons to be learnt from U-turn on seat belt law in Hong Kong

The government and legislators must ensure the law can achieve its intended purpose of ensuring public safety before it is reintroduced.

A sign on a Hong Kong bus reminds passengers to buckle up. On January 30, the government said it would repeal the law on the seat belt requirement to address its deficiencies, five days after the law took effect. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Hong Kong’s seat belt policy U-turn shows little learned from waste levy mess

Once again, despite good intentions, policymakers have failed to consider every eventuality and prepare adequately.

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People wear seat belts on a double-decker bus in Sham Shui Po on January 29 to comply with new rules that are now being suspended. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong politics

‘Outcomes, not output’: Exco held 25% fewer meetings over John Lee’s tenure so far

Figures show advisory body convened 119 meetings and discussed 602 items over first 3½ years of Chief Executive John Lee’s tenure.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong health chief seeks to speed up Medical Council’s complaint handling

But Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau warns against ‘arbitrarily’ adding non-professional members to watchdog.

Hong Kong transport

Video | Hong Kong to suspend seat belts on buses rule after less than a week

Wording of law only applies to new buses registered from January 25 this year.

Hong Kong’s transport chief has said the government will suspend a mandatory seat belt requirement for bus passengers and revise the legislation, after the law was found to be only applicable to new buses registered from January 25, 2026.
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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Over 110,000 secure waivers since Hong Kong public medical fee reform took effect

Health minister Lo Chung-mau says about 53,000 received concession certificates, while roughly 60,000 granted three-month conditional waivers.

Patients at Kwong Wah Hospital’s A&E department. Hong Kong introduced a new public hospital fee regime on Jan 1, 2026. Photo: Sun Yeung
Hong Kong transport

More seat belt confusion: does the new law cover all public buses in Hong Kong?

Ex-legislator who was part of committee that scrutinised proposed law says rule should only apply on buses newly registered from January 25.

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong’s first dog-friendly restaurants could be opening sooner than you think

Environment minister reveals possible timeline for approval of city’s first dog-friendly restaurants under ‘pet economy’ push.

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Hong Kong tourism

Authorities to seek public views on walkway for New Praya selfie hotspot

Kennedy Town’s New Praya has become hotspot for mainland Chinese tourists in recent years, but trend has also triggered road safety fears.

Mainland tourists take pictures in Kennedy Town. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Hong Kong to test firefighting drones in pilot scheme

Authorities turn to new technology as part of efforts to enhance fire safety following the deadly Tai Po blaze.

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong minister Erick Tsang resigns, reveals prostate cancer fears

City leader John Lee dismisses speculation about more principal official departures, says his cabinet ‘shares his philosophy’ and has met expectations.

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Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong lawmakers urge review of seat belt policy on buses amid complaints

Legislator Ben Chan says some operators could consider switching to lap belts to make it easier for passengers to alight.

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Some passengers have voiced frustration with seat belt use on buses. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong lawmaker ready to face legal consequences after ‘rash’ driving decision

Judy Chan also says she will refrain from driving for a while as she issues another apology to the public.

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Lawmaker Judy Chan was filmed driving along Jaffe Road in the wrong direction. Photo: Karma Lo
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong lawmaker Judy Chan ‘sorry’ over traffic incident caught on camera

Viral video shows car heading along Jaffe Road against the flow of traffic.

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Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong teams up with experts to develop AI tailored for schools

Secretary for Education Christine Choi tells legislature authorities are exploring launching a large language model relating to city’s school curriculum.

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Hong Kong courts

Rule of law in Hong Kong ‘more robust’ than any single case: chief justice

Calls for early release of any defendant on political grounds strike against the rule of law, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung says of Jimmy Lai case.

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Hong Kong’s Chief Justice Andrew Cheung inspects the police ceremonial guard outside City Hall on Monday, ahead of his speech to mark the opening of the 2026 legal year. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Government knows best? Hong Kong policymakers need to listen more

From Tai Po redevelopment to anti-bid-rigging measures, Hong Kong policies appear to have been shaped with little legislative input.

Lawmakers attend the first meeting of the 8th Legislative Council in Admiralty on January 14. Photo: Eugene Lee
Legislative Council election 2025

Exclusive | Several Hong Kong lawmakers omit unpaid directorships in Legco declarations

Legco House Committee chairman Ronick Chan calls on lawmakers to be more rigorous and register all directorships to avoid controversy.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Pledges fall short of fixing building sector after Hong Kong inferno: experts

Experts warn new building maintenance measures in the wake of the deadly fire in Tai Po only scratch the surface of deeper systemic issues.

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