Voting for the election of the eighth-term Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) kicked off on Sunday morning, with 90 members to be elected.

Polling stations opened at 7:30 a.m. across Hong Kong, as 612 stations welcomed more than 4.13 million eligible voters. Voters were seen lining up in an orderly manner to cast their ballots.

Held under the "patriots administering Hong Kong" principle, the election will return 90 lawmakers: 40 from the Election Committee constituency, 30 from functional constituencies and 20 through direct geographical elections. The new LegCo term will begin on January 1, 2026, and run for four years.

To facilitate voting by different groups, dedicated polling stations were set up for civil servants, healthcare workers and ethnic minorities. Additional stations were arranged at locations such as the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge and Sheung Shui to assist cross-boundary voters. 

For residents affected by the recent fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, free shuttle buses and a "one household, one social worker" notification service were provided.

Polling will run until 11:30 p.m., with results expected early on December 8.

HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said on Sunday that he and his wife had cast their votes. He called on eligible voters to actively cast their ballots, saying voter participation is essential to driving reforms, supporting affected residents and strengthening HKSAR's development.

"LegCo holds significant responsibilities. Together we can close loopholes in the current system and make our city safer," he said. "This vote is crucial for driving reforms, supporting those affected by disasters, uniting our strength and moving forward together."

Speaking of the Wang Fuk Court fire, Lee said the government would work to uncover the cause as soon as possible, accelerate recovery and reconstruction, and push institutional reforms to enhance public safety and reassure residents.