Hong Kong changes law to slash directly elected council seats, undermining democratic challenges
Jul 6, 2023
Hong Kong lawmakers on Thursday passed an amendment to a law to eliminate most directly elected seats on local district councils, the last major political representative bodies chosen by the public
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong lawmakers on Thursday passed an amendment to a law to eliminate most directly elected seats on local district councils, the last major political representative bodies chosen by the public, shutting down further democratic challenges in the city.
The changes include slashing the proportion of directly elected seats in the municipal-level organization being
from some 90% currently to just about 20%
— even lower than the level when these bodies were first set up in the 1980s, when Hong Kong was ruled by Britain.The rest of the 470 seats will be filled by members appointed by the chief executive, rural committee chairpersons and others elected by local committees that are packed with pro-establishment figures.
All incoming councilors will be vetted by a committee to ensure “patriots” are administering Hong Kong. A performance monitoring mechanism will be introduced for “sanctioning misconduct” of councilors.
The electoral overhaul reflects Beijing’s increasing control over Hong Kong following months of mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. In 2021, Hong Kong
amended its electoral laws
for its legislature, drastically reducing the public’s ability to vote and increasing the number of pro-Beijing lawmakers making decisions for the city.Analysts said the latest amendments would marginalize public participation in the city's affairs, warning that the government could further lose popular support.
In the past, elections for city district council seats typically drew little international attention as the councilors mainly handled municipal matters, such as organizing construction projects and ensuring that public facilities are in order.
But the
councils took on importance
after the city’s pro-democracy campwon a landslide victory
in the last poll at the height of the anti-government protests in 2019. The camp then hailed its strong gains in the race as a “victory” for the Hong Kong people.Many pro-democracy district councilors
resigned
in 2021 after authorities introduced an oath-taking requiring them to pledge allegiance to the city. Their mass resignations followed media reports that councilors may have to repay their wages if they are later disqualified from office, which the government had not confirmed or denied at the time.Critics regarded the requirement as part of a broader crackdown on the pro-democracy movement after the enactment of the sweeping national security law in 2020.
The resignations and other disqualifications had left about one-third of the 479 councilors still working, the government said.
The bill passed Thursday unanimously by the city’s legislature, as most legislators are largely pro-Beijing. Many lawmakers, including Regina Ip, voiced their disapproval over the performances of some pro-democracy councilors elected in 2019.
“The councils became increasingly radical and turned into a very big resistance that obstructs the government's work and many measures that aim to improve people's livelihood," said Ip, a leading member of the Executive Council, Hong Kong’s Cabinet.
But John Burns, an honorary professor of politics and public administration at the University of Hong Kong, said the drastic cut in the number of directly elected seats would undermine a legal and legitimate way for the people to communicate with authority.
“Hong Kong has never been a democracy,” he said. “The changes do, however, roll back political participation, which could further undermine Hong Kong people’s support for the government.”
Kenneth Chan, professor at Hong Kong Baptist University's government and international studies department, said the overhaul aimed to install pro-government representatives through heavily controlled methods.
“The district councils are expected to degenerate into echo chambers for the administration, and will no longer serve as a key platform for democratic reforms at the grassroots level,” Chan said.
MORE NEWS
G20 foreign ministers end Atlanta meeting without consensus on key issues
As Washington seeks to loosen China’s dominance over critical minerals, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged other members of the Group of 20 (G20) to strengthen supply chains and secure strategic trade routes as the group’s foreign ministers’ meeting drew to a close in Atlanta on Saturday. Rubio said there was a “universal recognition” among the G20 members over the importance of issues like critical minerals, supply chain security and freedom of navigation. “The first step is at least some...
Manchester United's Longest Winless Run: A Look Back
Manchester United's woes deepened with a 2-0 loss to Chelsea, stretching their winless run to nine games and leaving them 16th in the Premier League table.
Lakshya Sen Stuns Toma Junior Popov, PV Sindhu Beats Anmol Kharb To Move Into Hylo Open Final
Lakshya Sen avenged his 2025 China Open loss to Toma Junior Popov with a dominant semifinal win, as PV Sindhu outclassed youngster Anmol Kharb to set up another title shot.
Valentin Vacherot Creates Monaco History, Stuns Taylor Fritz To Reach Basel Final
Valentin Vacherot created Monegasque tennis history by stunning sixth seed Taylor Fritz in straight sets to reach the Swiss Indoors Basel final.
Quad not ‘anti-China’, says Rubio as first summit in two years set before Trump-Xi talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or the Quad, was not an “anti-China” coalition, as the grouping’s top diplomats finalised preparations for the leaders’ summit in the Philippines next month. Rubio’s statement comes just weeks before US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Shenzhen, China. “It is not an anti-China or anti-anybody coalition,” Rubio said at a press conference on the sidelines of the...
Meghalaya minister Metbah Lyngdoh resigns as UDP loses legislators to NPP, BJP
Meghalaya cabinet minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) president Metbah Lyngdoh has resigned amid a series of defections that have sharply weakened his party's strength in the Assembly. The exits include three MLAs who joined the ruling National People's Party and eight others whose merger with the BJP was recognised by the Assembly Speaker.
Court discharges former drug regulator S Eswara Reddy, three others in corruption case
The court found that the call recordings relied on by the prosecution did not attribute criminality to Reddy. None of the accused, it noted, had said in the recordings that Reddy demanded a bribe on any particular day or time to favour Bengaluru-based Biocon Biologics Ltd (BBL).
Centre releases addition instalment of tax devolution of Rs 1.09 lakh crore to states
This is in addition to the regular monthly devolution and the second additional instalment this financial year.
Iran targeted US air defences then hit aircraft and buildings on Mideast bases: AP analysis
An Associated Press analysis of satellite imagery and regional officials' accounts found that Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed structures at 26 US military bases and other sites across the Middle East through August. Iran initially targeted early-warning radars and aircraft infrastructure before hitting warehouses, troop accommodation and other facilities, causing billions of dollars in equipment damage.
Three people killed in Noney in Manipur
KIM alleged that the act was committed by cadres of the NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) terrorist groups. This atrocity is a direct, unprovoked assault on the lives, dignity, and survival of the Kuki-Zo people in their own homeland.
Three people killed in Noney in Manipur
KIM alleged that the act was committed by cadres of the NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) terrorist groups. This atrocity is a direct, unprovoked assault on the lives, dignity, and survival of the Kuki-Zo people in their own homeland.
CCI clears five major deals across food, energy, fintech and telecom sectors
CCI has granted approval for five significant business transactions in sectors like food services and renewable energy. The merger of Sapphire Foods India Limited with Devyani International Limited aims to combine their restaurant operations in India. Aditya Birla Renewables Limited is set to acquire Solenergi Power Private Limited from Shell for approximately Rs 17,200 crore. In financial services, Prosus N.V.