2025 Hong Kong legislative election

2025 Hong Kong legislative election

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All 90 seats to the Legislative Council 46 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Gary Chan Lo Wai-kwok Ng Chau-pei Party DAB BPA FTU Alliance Pro-Beijing Pro-Beijing Pro-Beijing Leader's seat New Territories North East Engineering HK Island East Last election 19 seats, 51.43% 7 seats, N/A [a] 8 seats, 14.53% Seats before 19 8 7   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Regina Ip Tommy Cheung Wong Kwan-yu Party NPP Liberal FEW Alliance Pro-Beijing Pro-Beijing Pro-Beijing Leader's seat HK Island West Catering Did not stand Last election 5 seats, 11.35% 4 seats, N/A [a] 2 seats, N/A [a] Seats before 6 4 2
Party control before election Pro-Beijing camp Party control after election TBD

The 2025 Hong Kong Legislative Council election is a general election that is expected to be held in December 2025 for the 8th Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Under the new electoral system introduced in 2021, 90 seats to the Legislative Council include 20 seats of directly elected geographical constituencies (GCs), 30 seats of trade-based indirectly elected functional constituencies (FCs), and 40 seats elected by the 1,500-member Election Committee.

Background

Past parliamentary session

The 7th Legislative Council elected in 2021 was the first after the national security law and electoral changes were imposed by the Chinese government. Without any legislator explicitly from the pro-democracy camp, the legislature packed with pro-Beijing members was criticised to lack meaningful discussions and debates, while newcomers of the parliament resorted to politically correct measures only, such as repeating speeches by Chinese officials. ^[1] Ming Pao reported in August 2023 that amongst the 24 government bills passed since the beginning of the legislative term, including the domestic security law which was fast-tracked, ^[2] 16 of those were approved without a quorum, ^[3] prompting concerns of MP's performance. ^[4] Andrew Leung, President of the Legislative Council, denied claims that the chamber rubber-stamped bills and defended it as highly efficient. ^[5]

Smart ballot box

In December 2024, the government announced a series of new measures to be implemented in this election. The Improving Electoral Arrangements (Consolidated Amendments) Bill contained a plan to introduce "smart ballot boxes" to ensure ballots were validly marked. ^[6] While the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said the scanners would "streamline and enhance" procedures while ensuring that "cardinal election principles" such as voting confidentiality would be upheld, some lawmakers expressed concerns over the implications of compromising vote secrecy. ^[7] Although insisting the voter rights would be protected as voters would not be identified, the government withdrew the proposal less than a week later after "considering the views of legislators". ^[8] The bureau said it attaches great importance to the views and is willing to "accept well-intentioned advice", while the smart ballot boxes will still be made available for voters who choose to use them. ^[9]

Retiring incumbents

Sing Tao Daily reported that as many as one-third of the 89 incumbents "may not be able to stay", including Paul Tse, who was named for making "politically incorrect remarks", and Lam So-wai for her poor performance. So Cheung-wing, who did not vote in the second reading of the security bill, was also said to be leaving the parliament. The paper also cited sources as stating that age and intra-party succession may also contribute to the retirement of others. ^[10]

Notes

1. Did not run in Geographical Constituencies

References

1. "立法會討論變「黨八股」 官場中人：反對派清零 議員寧願留在舒適圈 - 光傳媒 Photon Media". Photon Media (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 15 August 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
2. Ching, Frank (25 March 2024). "Is Hong Kong headed for a rubber-stamp legislature?". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
3. "政府法案2/3表決 參與議員未過半 謝偉俊憂遭法律挑戰 劉健儀：勿覺得不爭議議案就可少人". Ming Pao (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2025-01-20.
4. "「愛國者治港」下的立法會 議員表現再受爭議". RFA. 16 August 2023.
5. "梁君彥指今屆議員認真審議法案 並非橡皮圖章". Now News (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 4 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
6. "Govt mulling introducing smart ballot boxes and expanding vote counting machines". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
7. Lee, James (17 December 2024). "John Lee vows 'satisfactory' elections after concerns over 'smart' ballot boxes". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
8. "Hong Kong shelves plan to use 'smart ballot boxes' for elections". South China Morning Post. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
9. Lee, James (18 December 2024). "Hong Kong scales back 'smart' ballot box plan". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
10. "完善選舉｜傳「西環契仔」下屆無得留低 建制傳媒指立法會議員「多一個唔多」". Chaser News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 23 April 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-20.