Defining LegCo in the Hong Kong SAR: A Quick Overview.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Legislative Council serves as a law-making body with the authority to pass and change statutes for the region. Yet, elections for this council have seen a significant decline in genuine political alternatives against a backdrop of major political changes in the past few years.
After the 1997 handover, a model of "one country, two systems" was put in place, guaranteeing that Hong Kong would retain a measure of self-governance. In the years since, analysts argue that democratic rights have been systematically curtailed.
Significant Events and Changes
During 2014, legislation was put forward that would have allow residents to elect the Chief Executive. Critically, any such election was limited to candidates sanctioned by the mainland government.
The year 2019 was marked by widespread demonstrations, including an episode where residents accessed the parliamentary premises to express anger against a proposed legal amendment.
The Effect of the NSL
Implemented in mid-2020, the National Security Law handed new legal tools to Beijing over Hong Kong's affairs. Conduct such as secession were made illegal. In the wake of this law, every major political group disbanded.
The Current Electoral Framework
Elections for the legislature are regarded as Hong Kong's key democratic event. But, laws enacted in the past few years now guarantee that only candidates deemed loyal are permitted to run for office.
- Membership Structure: Currently, only 20 out of 90 seats are chosen by popular vote.
- Remaining Seats: The balance are appointed by a special interest groups.
- New Rules: Newly proposed standards would require legislators to "sincerely support" central authority.
Public Response
With many forms of protest now curtailed, abstaining from voting has emerged as one of the few peaceful ways for residents to show disapproval. This has led to record low electoral engagement in the latest LegCo contests.
