What is the Legislative Council in the Hong Kong SAR: A Brief Guide.
Hong Kong's Legislative Council functions as a law-making body with the mandate to pass and change laws for the territory. Nonetheless, electoral processes for this council have seen a significant decline in substantive competing voices during a period of major political overhauls in recent years.
After the return to Chinese administration, a framework of a dual-system arrangement was established, vowing that Hong Kong would retain a level of self-governance. In the years since, analysts argue that civil liberties have been steadily diminished.
Major Developments and Reforms
Back in 2014, a proposal was introduced that would have allow residents to choose the Chief Executive. Critically, the selection was restricted to nominees pre-approved by the mainland government.
The year 2019 saw extensive demonstrations, including an episode where protesters entered the parliamentary premises to voice opposition against a proposed legal amendment.
The Impact of the NSL
Passed in mid-2020, the NSL granted new legal tools to the mainland over Hong Kong's governance. Conduct such as collusion were criminalized. In the wake of this law, all significant opposition organization ceased operations.
The Present Election Process
Elections for the legislature are viewed as Hong Kong's key electoral exercise. However, rules established in recent years now stipulate that only individuals deemed pro-establishment are able to stand for election.
- Seat Composition: Now, only 20 out of 90 seats are directly elected.
- Other Positions: The rest are selected by a government-aligned body.
- Code of Conduct: Additionally proposed requirements would mandate legislators to "sincerely support" central authority.
Voter Behavior
With most forms of protest now restricted, not voting has become one of the limited legal ways for residents to express dissent. This has led to record low voter turnout in recent LegCo polls.
