Understanding the Legislative Council in the Hong Kong SAR: A 30-Second Explanation.
Hong Kong's Legislative Council functions as a regional legislature with the authority to create and amend legislation for the region. Nonetheless, polls for this assembly have experienced a significant decline in genuine political alternatives against a backdrop of significant systemic changes in recent years.
Following the 1997 handover, a principle of "one country, two systems" was established, vowing that Hong Kong would maintain a level of self-governance. In the years since, analysts argue that democratic rights have been systematically curtailed.
Major Events and Changes
In 2014, legislation was tabled that would have allow residents to vote for the head of government. Importantly, the selection was restricted to contenders pre-approved by Beijing.
During 2019 experienced months of demonstrations, culminating in an incident where protesters accessed the legislative complex to express anger against a contentious law.
The Consequence of the NSL
Implemented in 2020, the security legislation handed extensive authority to Beijing over Hong Kong's governance. Conduct such as secession were outlawed. Following this law, the primary democratic party dissolved.
The Current Electoral Process
LegCo elections are regarded as Hong Kong's main democratic exercise. However, regulations enacted in recent years now ensure that only hopefuls deemed loyal are eligible to stand for election.
- Membership Structure: Now, only 20 out of 90 seats are chosen by popular vote.
- The Majority: The majority are appointed by a pro-establishment committee.
- Proposed Standards: Newly proposed rules would mandate legislators to publicly support Beijing's jurisdiction.
Electoral Turnout
With other forms of protest now criminalized, not voting has emerged as one of the few safe ways for residents to register discontent. This has led to historically low participation rates in the latest LegCo polls.
