Defining the Legislative Council in the Hong Kong SAR: A 30-Second Guide.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Legislative Council operates as a law-making body with the mandate to create and amend legislation for the region. Nonetheless, electoral processes for this body have experienced a sharp reduction in meaningful opposition amid sweeping governance changes in the last decade.
After the 1997 handover, a model of "one country, two systems" was put in place, guaranteeing that Hong Kong would keep a measure of autonomy. Gradually, observers note that civil liberties have been systematically curtailed.
Key Developments and Shifts
Back in 2014, a bill was put forward that would have allow residents to vote for the Chief Executive. Critically, this process was limited to contenders pre-approved by Beijing.
The year 2019 saw extensive unrest, culminating in an event where residents entered the legislative complex to voice opposition against a contentious law.
The Impact of the Security Legislation
Enacted in mid-2020, the security legislation provided unprecedented powers to Beijing over Hong Kong's affairs. Activities such as secession were made illegal. Following this law, all significant political group ceased operations.
The Current Electoral Framework
Elections for the legislature are considered Hong Kong's primary electoral exercise. But, regulations established in 2021 now stipulate that only individuals deemed "patriots" are able to contest seats.
- Seat Composition: Currently, only 20 out of 90 seats are chosen by popular vote.
- The Majority: The rest are selected by a pro-establishment committee.
- Proposed Standards: Recent drafted requirements would require legislators to unequivocally back Beijing's jurisdiction.
Public Response
With most means of expression now curtailed, abstaining from voting has emerged as one of the limited safe ways for residents to show disapproval. Consequently record low voter turnout in recent LegCo elections.