Understanding LegCo in the Hong Kong SAR: A Brief Guide.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Legislative Council serves as a mini parliament with the power to pass and change legislation for the region. Nonetheless, electoral processes for this assembly have experienced a sharp reduction in genuine political alternatives during a period of major governance transformations in the last decade.
Subsequent to the 1997 handover, a principle of "one nation, two systems" was established, pledging that Hong Kong would retain a measure of autonomy. In the years since, analysts argue that civil liberties have been steadily diminished.
Key Events and Shifts
During 2014, a bill was put forward that would have allow residents to vote for the head of government. Critically, this process was confined to contenders pre-approved by central authorities.
During 2019 saw extensive unrest, culminating in an event where residents accessed the legislative complex to express anger against a contentious legal amendment.
The Consequence of the NSL
Implemented in mid-2020, the National Security Law granted unprecedented powers to Beijing over Hong Kong's governance. Conduct such as collusion were made illegal. After this law, every major democratic party dissolved.
Today's Election Process
The council polls are viewed as Hong Kong's key political process. Nevertheless, laws established in recent years now guarantee that only candidates deemed pro-establishment are able to stand for election.
- Distribution of Seats: Now, only 20 out of 90 seats are filled by public ballot.
- The Majority: The majority are chosen by a special interest groups.
- Code of Conduct: Newly drafted standards would mandate legislators to "sincerely support" Beijing's jurisdiction.
Public Response
Amid most means of expression now restricted, abstaining from voting has been seen as one of the limited legal ways for residents to show disapproval. As a result unprecedentedly low participation rates in recent LegCo polls.
