HONG KONG — The latest iteration of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo) election, held on December 7, concluded after an extended voting period, registering a final geographical constituency turnout of 31.90%, slightly surpassing the previous election’s figure despite a restructured political landscape. Over 1.31 million voters cast ballots across the territory, with results confirming a predictable clean sweep for candidates largely aligned with the government across the geographical, functional, and Election Committee functional constituencies.
The voting process, which ran from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., saw numerous logistical preparations, including specialized polling stations designed to maximize accessibility. Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) Chairman Alex Lo Ki-hong addressed the media early Sunday, acknowledging the final regional constituency turnout of 31.90% and noting that the highest participation rates were observed in the New Territories Southwest, Southeast, and Northwest areas. Functional constituencies like the Commercial (Third), Innovation and Technology, and Agriculture and Fisheries sectors recorded the highest engagement.
Election Logistics and Voter Distribution
Specific arrangements were made for various voter groups, including approximately 7,100 votes cast at border-adjacent stations. Around 20,000 civil servants utilized dedicated polling venues, while medical staff at Hospital Authority facilities accounted for 631 votes across seven reserved locations. Correctional facilities tallied 2,400 votes, and three police stations saw minimal usage, recording just three votes.
Despite the relatively smooth procedure, the EAC received 457 complaints throughout the day. The majority of these related to election canvassing activities in private or government buildings (122 complaints), voting arrangements (63 complaints), and issues concerning election advertisements (58 complaints). Authorities stated that most of these grievances were addressed promptly.
Election Committee Constituency Results Finalized
The results from the 50-member Election Committee constituency were among the first to be finalized, with 40 candidates successfully securing seats. Political veterans dominated the list, with Yiu Pak-leung accumulating 1,397 votes and Regina Chen Hoi-yan securing 1,386 votes, marking them as the highest vote-getters.
The pro-establishment Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) performed strongly in this segment, seeing all eight of its candidates, including Chan Han-pan and Elizabeth Quat, elected. However, the Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) experienced mixed results, with only two of its four candidates, Wong Kwok and Leung Tsz-wing, winning seats, while Vice-Chairpersons Ma Kwong-yue and Tsang Chi-man were unsuccessful. Twenty-four incumbent lawmakers successfully returned to the legislative body via this channel.
Key Geographical and Functional Constituency Winners
Across the ten geographical constituencies, candidates affiliated with government-friendly parties prevailed in all regions. Key winners included incumbents and newcomers across geographical areas such as Hong Kong Island East and West, Kowloon East and West, and the various New Territories regions.
The 30 functional constituencies also saw a broad range of sectoral representatives elected. Noteworthy wins include those in the influential legal and financial sectors, with Chan Pei-leung securing a seat in the Insurance sector, and Fok Kai-kong winning in the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication sector. The elections confirmed the dominance of established political actors and sectoral representatives, reflecting the aims of the overhauled electoral system.
The newly elected LegCo is set to convene with a composition heavily skewed toward pro-establishment voices, a structure critics argue further limits political pluralism in the city’s governance. The results underscore the ongoing transformation of Hong Kong’s political landscape following the restructuring of its electoral mechanisms.
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