Understanding the Legislative Council in the Hong Kong SAR: A 30-Second Guide.
Hong Kong's Legislative Council operates as a regional legislature with the authority to create and amend laws for the region. Yet, elections for this assembly have seen a sharp reduction in substantive competing voices amid significant systemic transformations in the past few years.
Following the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, a framework of "one country, two systems" was promised, guaranteeing that Hong Kong would retain a measure of autonomy. Gradually, critics contend that democratic rights have been steadily diminished.
Key Events and Changes
During 2014, a bill was tabled that aimed to allow residents to vote for the city's leader. Importantly, the selection was restricted to contenders pre-approved by central authorities.
In 2019 saw extensive demonstrations, including an episode where residents accessed the parliamentary premises to voice opposition against a contentious extradition bill.
The Consequence of the Security Legislation
Passed in 2020, the NSL granted extensive authority to the mainland over Hong Kong's governance. Activities such as collusion were made illegal. After this law, the primary political group ceased operations.
The Present Electoral Framework
Elections for the legislature are regarded as Hong Kong's main electoral exercise. However, laws introduced in 2021 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 rest are chosen by a government-aligned body.
- New Rules: Recent suggested requirements would require legislators to publicly support Beijing's jurisdiction.
Public Response
Given most forms of protest now criminalized, abstaining from voting has been seen as one of the remaining legal ways for residents to express dissent. Consequently record low voter turnout in the latest LegCo polls.
