District Council elections: Revamped system heralds brighter future

Editor's note: Grenville Cross, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a senior counsel, law professor, and former director of public prosecutions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Under Article 97 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), a positive role for District Councils in local affairs is envisaged. They are required to provide advice to the government "on district administration and other affairs," and are responsible for "providing services in such fields as culture, recreation and environmental sanitation."

Although the Basic Law stipulates that the councils "are not organs of political power," this was disrespected by many of the District Councilors elected in 2019. They embraced an avowedly anti-China agenda, and tried to sabotage the "one country, two systems" policy.

The councilors lacked any interest in local affairs, and turned council meetings into shouting matches. They harassed officials, sought to divide society, and discredited local democracy. Instead of promoting public welfare, they indulged in political grandstanding, pontificating about issues outside their remit, including foreign affairs. They were manifestly unfit for any public office.

In 2021, however, when required to show their loyalty by swearing allegiance to the HKSAR and committing to uphold the Basic Law, they realized it was the end of the road. Many resigned, fled or were disqualified. If the system that produced them was to survive, it was obvious it had to be reformed.

On May 2, 2023, therefore, the government announced sweeping electoral changes, designed to depoliticize the councils and re-focus them on community issues, as envisaged by the Basic Law.

Moreover, after the gross misconduct of their predecessors, candidates for the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election were required to satisfy the patriotism criteria, and all the 399 hopefuls who stood this year passed their vetting procedures.

Under the reforms, the councils now comprise 470 members, with 88 seats, spread across 18 districts, being elected through popular voting. Whereas half of the remaining seats (179) are directly appointed by the Chief Executive, based on their local knowledge and experience, the other half (176), are selected through indirect elections by three district-level committees (the area committees, the District Fight Crime Committee and the Fire Safety Committee, comprising 2,490 members). There are also places for 27 rural committee chairmen in the New Territories.

On December 10, in the District Council elections, more than 1.19 million voters cast their ballots for the 88 seats in the geographical constituencies. Although this represented a 27.54 percent turnout, lower than earlier contests, the system was a new one, and many people were unfamiliar with its procedure.

Indeed, Justice David Lok, who chairs Electoral Affairs Committee, pointed out that it was inappropriate to directly compare the turnout this time with the higher one in 2019. He explained that the composition, voter base and voter system were all different this year, and this was indisputable. He could also have added that a computer glitch, which affected voting for a while in the early evening, would also have discouraged some electors from voting.

What, however, was particularly gratifying was the complete absence of the intimidation and violence that discredited the last District Council elections. In 2019, a low point was the stabbing of a patriotic candidate, Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, and it is little wonder that some voters became disenchanted. Although stability has returned, it will inevitably take a while for public trust to be fully restored.

A significant feature of the elections was the youth of many of the candidates, with many of the 171 standing in the geographical districts being still in their thirties. There was also great diversity, and the candidates included established professionals, people with records of public service, ethnic minority businessmen and recent immigrants. These, moreover, were not the mindless morons of the past, but responsible citizens motivated by a desire to help their districts and provide the government with sensible advice.

Although there are still 179 District Councilors to be appointed by Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, plus another 27 from the rural committees, they are expected to be identified expeditiously. Like those already elected, they will undoubtedly be well motivated and experienced, and committed to bettering Hong Kong.

The big winner in the elections was the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), known for its commitment to responsible governance. It secured 41 of the 88 popularly elected seats in the 18 districts, and 68 of the 176 seats elected by the three committees. The DAB secured 109 seats out of the 264 up for grabs, while the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFU) won 18 seats in the districts and a further nine in the committee contests.

As the revamped District Councils are new creations, it will obviously take time for the public to acclimatize to them. There is, therefore, now a heavy responsibility on the incoming councilors to prove their worth and gain the trust of their communities. They can do this by concentrating on their core functions, and showing they are capable of getting things done.

Once the councilors achieve this, they will inevitably attract public confidence. This will help to ensure the new arrangements go from strength to strength. It will also heighten interest in grassroots democracy, and this will generate greater enthusiasm in future elections.

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