Defining the Legislative Council in the Hong Kong SAR: A 30-Second Guide.
Hong Kong's Legislative Council functions as a regional legislature with the mandate to enact and revise legislation for the territory. However, polls for this council have seen a notable absence in substantive competing voices amid major systemic overhauls in the past few years.
Subsequent to the 1997 handover, a model of a dual-system arrangement was put in place, pledging that Hong Kong would retain a degree of autonomy. Gradually, critics contend that democratic rights have been systematically curtailed.
Major Milestones and Changes
In 2014, a proposal was introduced that was designed to allow residents to elect the Chief Executive. Critically, any such election was restricted to contenders sanctioned by the mainland government.
In 2019 saw widespread demonstrations, including an incident where demonstrators entered the government building to voice opposition against a controversial law.
The Impact of the NSL
Enacted in 2020, the NSL handed extensive authority to Beijing over Hong Kong's governance. Conduct such as collusion were made illegal. Following this law, every major political group disbanded.
The Current Electoral System
The council polls are considered Hong Kong's main democratic event. However, laws established in 2021 now guarantee that only individuals deemed loyal are able to stand for election.
- Distribution of Seats: At present, only 20 out of 90 seats are directly elected.
- The Majority: The majority are appointed by a government-aligned body.
- New Rules: Newly drafted rules would compel legislators to unequivocally back Beijing's jurisdiction.
Electoral Turnout
Amid most forms of protest now curtailed, voter abstention has emerged as one of the few legal ways for residents to express dissent. This has led to record low participation rates in recent LegCo polls.
