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Alex Lo

As 161 finalised hopefuls compete in Hong Kong’s second “patriots-only” Legislative Council elections, they will have just a few weeks to make themselves and their policy platforms known to the wider public. Some with political backgrounds already have exposure, but it may be limited to the district level.
Of the candidates, 49 are district councillors, a high number that is more than three times the 14 in 2021. Thirty-two of them are competing in direct or geographical elections. Name recognition will be all the more important as few have the star quality of Vivian Kong Man-wai, the Olympic fencing gold medallist, who is eyeing the functional seat for tourism.
All 161 candidates have qualified because they are considered patriotic and love Hong Kong. That is another way to spell out “one country two systems”, with “country” being considered first and foremost.
It’s how the reformed electoral system is meant to function, as Hong Kong moves from Western-style confrontational politics towards a consensus-building democracy aligned with the city’s social and political realities.
Many of the best-known old guards are retiring from Legco. Any political body needs new blood and talent, so this ought to be welcome, even if some new lawmakers will have to prove their mettle.
A new breed of lawmakers must be critical in a constructive way, strive to deliver results, be flexible in dealing with the government and responsive to their constituents’ needs.


It won’t be easy. They need to find a sweet spot between cooperation and checks and balances, so there is trust and confidence among officials, even when they or their departments are being criticised. They must understand that it isn’t personal, nor is it political theatre, as it was in the past before the electoral reforms.
Beijing has framed Hong Kong’s transformation as going from chaos to order. Whether you agree or not, the central government’s confidence in the city’s political system is sine qua non of its support and promotion of Hong Kong’s status as the nation’s premier financial centre.
Meanwhile, the global environment is undergoing unprecedented changes and presenting unpredictable challenges that require new thinking and governance. We need new talent in Legco who combine international perspectives with local experience and understanding.
That vision is incorporated into Hong Kong’s inclusion in the national 15th five-year plan as the city embraces key projects such as the Northern Metropolis to further integrate the Greater Bay Area.

But, in their day-to-day work, lawmakers must realise that ordinary people by and large care most about livelihood issues, from housing and education to employment and healthcare. Those with experience in the district councils have been exposed to grass-roots concerns, and it is heartening that the first two election forums saw candidates focusing on such issues. In the end, whether district or legislative, councillors are there to serve people and represent their interests.
The December election will be more intense than the last one. The number of candidates for direct election has reportedly increased by 45.7 per cent compared with the previous election, averaging more than five candidates for every two seats in each constituency. The contests for functional constituencies and Election Committee seats will be just as fierce, if not more so.
The reformed elections have been denigrated by the Western media and their governments, claiming that Hong Kong is being moulded into mainland China’s image. Well, how can it be otherwise? Should Hong Kong be allowed to evolve into something like an American city, a British city or an Australian city? That is surely absurd.
No one expects New York, London or Sydney to be like a Chinese city, even though their operations and development could well improve by borrowing some aspects of Chinese-style governance.
Before the electoral reforms, many Hongkongers were said to be afraid of Beijing’s authoritarian interference and fought against integration with their own country, even though it has been the biggest economic success story in human history and an engine of global growth. They were told by the now-defunct opposition and its Western backers that their own country was a monster.
It turns out there is nothing to be scared of, as Hongkongers who make millions of trips across the border every year to shop, wine and dine, and also to live, can testify.
Hong Kong is reaching the next stage of the nation’s development, and this election will be crucial to producing future political leaders who will steer the course for us.


The story begins …

Hong Kong’s new chapter

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong needs a new breed of lawmaker to steer its future course

A woman walks past a poster for Hong Kong’s 2025 Legislative Council election, at the Tsim Sha Tsui Pier, on November 6. Photo: Jelly Tse

Candidates’ campaign banners line King’s Road in Tai Koo on November 10. Photo: Sam Tsang

Turnover among Hong Kong legislators should not be surprising

Legislative Council president Andrew Leung meets the media on October 22, as the seventh Legco term wrapped up. Photo: Nora Tam

Outgoing lawmaker Regina Ip attends the final meeting of the current legislative term on October 23. Photo: Nora Tam

Outgoing lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun addresses the media on October 20 with Mark Chong Ho-fung, who will stand as Tien’s party candidate in the Legislative Council election. Photo: Eugene Lee

First Hong Kong Legco poll forums zoom in on livelihood issues

(From left) Lo Yuen-ting, Kwok Fu-yung, Joephy Chan, Marcella Cheung and Mok Yee-ki. Photo: Karma Lo

Constitutional affairs chief Erick Tsang has praised the election forums. Photo: Karma Lo

Supporters of the candidates at the first Legco poll forum on Tuesday morning. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong’s economy, global ties main issues at party’s Legco election forum

The DAB held the forum for Election Committee constituency candidates on Monday. Photo: Sun Yeung

The event gave candidates the chance to put forward their ideas. Photo: Sun Yeung

Fewer registered professionals, more councillors contesting Hong Kong Legco poll

The Legislative Council election nomination period closed on Thursday. Photo: Jelly Tse

Secretary for Security Chris Tang hands out election leaflets in Sham Shui Po on Saturday. Photo: Handout

Officials join members of the disciplined services to show their support for the Legco election. Photo: Handout 

Firefighters, with a firefighting robotic dog call on voters to cast their ballots on December 7. Photo: Nora Tam

 Thomas So, the former head of the Law Society, is among the professional candidates. Photo: Dickson Lee

Opinion

Hong Kong Opinion

China Opinion

News

World

Hong Kong

Politics

Legislators must combine an international perspective with an understanding of the city’s social and political realities


Legislators must combine an international perspective with an understanding of the city’s social and political realities.


Hong Kong district council election

Hong Kong elections

Hong Kong Legislative Council election 2025

Legislative Council of Hong Kong (Legco)

China

Vivian Kong Man-wai

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

As I see it

Hong Kong needs a new breed of lawmaker to steer its future course

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Legislators must combine an international perspective with an understanding of the city’s social and political realities

Legislators must combine an international perspective with an understanding of the city’s social and political realities