The political landscape in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo) has undergone a significant realignment following the conclusion of the most recent elections, with subtle yet crucial shifts in fortunes among the dominant pro-establishment parties. Key groups experienced varied outcomes, reflecting a reconfiguration of influence within the Beijing-aligned camp that now entirely controls the city’s legislature.
The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), LegCo’s largest party, solidified its preeminence, increasing its haul from 19 to 20 seats. The party fielded 26 candidates and saw success across various electoral streams. Notably, all eight candidates nominated through the Election Committee constituency secured victory. However, the gains were tempered by the surprise defeat of accountant Wong Chun-sok in his functional constituency bid.
In contrast, the Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) saw a disappointing outcome, maintaining its seven seats despite fielding 16 candidates. High-profile incumbents, including Kwok Wai-keung in Hong Kong West and Luk Chung-hung in New Territories Northwest, failed to retain their geographical constituency seats. Furthermore, only two of the four FTU candidates backed by the Election Committee were successful.
Veteran Parties Face Mixed Fortunes and Succession
The Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) leveraged a major internal generational change to secure eight seats, only one fewer than its previous nine, despite a strong focus on succession. The BPA nominated 14 candidates. While all four of its candidates running in geographical constituencies were defeated, veterans like Dr. Leung Mei-fun and newcomer Tang Ming-sum won seats via the Election Committee. The party successfully consolidated its grip on functional constituencies, with members like Lau Ip-keung, Ng Wing-ka, and Chan Cho-hung retaining their positions, and Wong Yung-wai inheriting the key Industrial (First) slot previously held by Andrew Leung.
Meanwhile, the New People’s Party (NPP) saw its representation halved, dropping from six seats to just three. Of the eight candidates fielded, including several newcomers in geographical constituencies, only incumbents Lee Tsz-king (New Territories North East) and Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee (Hong Kong West) won, complemented by Ho King-hong‘s victory in the Election Committee stream. Newcomers failed to make breakthroughs in direct elections.
The Liberal Party maintained its four seats, securing victories entirely within functional constituencies. Other smaller groups saw stable or increased representation:
- Labour Group and Roundtable remained steady with two and one seat, respectively.
- Education Workers Union significantly boosted its standing, moving from two to four seats.
Implications of the Reshuffle
The election results underscore the continued dominance of established pro-Beijing groups, which have successfully navigated the overhauled system favoring candidates vetted for “patriotism.”
Lam Kin-fung, a losing BPA veteran, characterized the intense competition as “healthy,” urging the incoming LegCo to address critical issues following a major fire in Tai Po during the polling period. Chuang Ho-fai of Roundtable, who secured a seat in New Territories Northwest, emphasized that his success demonstrated that Hong Kong citizens still value “rational and forthright voices,” crediting the foundation laid by his predecessor, Michael Tien.
Despite the internal political jostling, the geographical constituency turnout rate was historically low, at 31.09%, representing 1.31 million voters—a marginal decrease from the previous election. The concentration of power and the selection mechanism ensure legislative stability aligned with central government policy, but the varied performance of the major parties suggests ongoing internal adjustments and competition for influence within the redefined political space. Analysts will be closely watching how these realigned forces collaborate to address pressing socio-economic challenges in the coming term.
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