Editorial | Hong Kong needs a Legco that can help it navigate challenging times ahead

The outgoing cohort comprises veterans and younger lawmakers, suggesting there is no official age threshold. Some are loyalists while a handful are seen as relatively outspoken and critical. The reasons for departure also vary, ranging from family factors to political succession and continuity. With a traditional end-of-term banquet and a farewell valedictory motion debate also being abruptly called off, the unusual exodus has understandably fuelled speculation.

A commentary posted on the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office’s social media account said a change of lawmakers through elections was standard practice and represented “the true meaning of democracy”. Expressing the expectation that younger, more professional and innovative lawmakers would be elected, it said “there is no such thing as a ‘blessing list’ nor does anyone enjoy any ‘special treatment’”. In another commentary, the office hit out at what it called fabricated claims of Beijing interfering in the election and reminded the city’s law enforcement and judiciary to take action when necessary while the national security office also warned against attempts by anti-China forces to disrupt the polls.

The aspirations for a major change in Legco may trigger the perception in some quarters that the performance of some incumbents has fallen short of the public’s and Beijing’s expectations. While the revamped Legco has passed more bills, including the national security law under Basic Law Article 23, the performance of individual members still has much room for improvement.

Commending the efficiency of the all-patriot legislature at a seminar, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he hoped the new Legco would work with the government to demonstrate “effective democracy”. That requires more than just passing a greater number of bills and funding proposals expeditiously under the current executive-led governance model. Beijing’s emphasis on high-quality development and self-reliance under the latest 15th five-year plan has laid down the direction for future development. Hopefully, more capable aspirants will come forward and the elections will return more people with the expertise to help the city and the country navigate a fast-changing world characterised by economic and geopolitical uncertainties.