Defining LegCo in the Hong Kong SAR: A 30-Second Guide.
Hong Kong's LegCo operates as a regional legislature with the power to create and amend laws for the region. Nonetheless, polls for this assembly have experienced a sharp reduction in substantive competing voices against a backdrop of sweeping governance transformations in the past few years.
Following the 1997 handover, a principle of "one nation, two systems" was promised, pledging that Hong Kong would maintain a level of autonomy. In the years since, observers note that democratic rights have been steadily diminished.
Major Events and Changes
In 2014, a proposal was put forward that aimed to allow residents to elect the city's leader. Critically, this process was restricted to candidates vetted by central authorities.
In 2019 experienced widespread demonstrations, culminating in an incident where protesters entered the parliamentary premises to express anger against a controversial legal amendment.
The Consequence of the National Security Law
Passed in 2020, the National Security Law handed unprecedented powers to central authorities over Hong Kong's affairs. Acts such as collusion were outlawed. In the wake of this law, all significant democratic party ceased operations.
The Present Election Process
LegCo elections are considered Hong Kong's key democratic exercise. But, laws introduced in recent years now stipulate that only hopefuls deemed loyal are permitted to stand for election.
- Membership Structure: At present, only 20 out of 90 seats are directly elected.
- Other Positions: The balance are appointed by a pro-establishment committee.
- Proposed Standards: Newly suggested rules would compel legislators to publicly support Beijing's jurisdiction.
Voter Behavior
Given most means of expression now restricted, voter abstention has emerged as one of the few legal ways for residents to show disapproval. As a result unprecedentedly low electoral engagement in recent LegCo contests.
