Election system and democratization

England gradually democratized Hong Kong through a 20-year mass revolution before the handover (China frequently condemned this as a violation of their “maintenance” agreement.) On March 4, 1982, the first universal election in Hong Kong’s history was held for district councilor seats. Elections brought the emergence of the professional politician, and following the Tiananmen Square massacre, political parties were formed. Three political parties representing three camps were formed: pro-democracy, conservatives, and the left. Later, an oppositional composition between two or three camps was established, with the opposition party as the pro-democracy camp, the conservatives as the pro-government camp, and the left as the pro-government group.

The Basic Law of Hong Kong and Election system

The structure of the election system of Hong Kong is based on the Basic Law of Hong Kong. On April 4, 1990, the National People’s Congress enacted and legislated the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. The law has the status of the Basic Law of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s system and administrative structure were established in accordance with the Basic Law, and Hong Kong was granted “a high degree of autonomy” with the exception of diplomacy and national defense. Additionally, the Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong committed to preserving Hong Kong’s current system for a period of up to 50 years. The Basic Law served as the political and international legal foundation for the implementation of both the principles of rule by Hong Kong people and the One Country, Two Systems.

The National People’s Congress has the sole power to amend the Basic Law.

Election of Hong Kong Chief executive

Regulations of the Basic Law of Hong Kong

  • The Chief Executive of the Special Region is elected through election or consultation within the region.
  • The chief executive serves a five-year term that is renewable.
  • The chief executive may disperse the legislative council only once during his or her term.

In 1996, a selection committee of 400 members comprised of Hong Kong citizens chosen by a Beijing committee selected the first chief executive, and in 2002, an election committee comprised of 800 members elected the second chief executive. For ten years following the transfer, the Basic Law specifies the manner in which the chief executive and legislative council will be elected. According to the Basic Law, if electoral reform is required after 2007, it must be approved by a two-thirds majority of all members of the legislative council, as well as by the chief executive and the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

The Chinese-British agreements, which stated that the legislative council members preceding the return would be the first legislative council members, were revoked immediately upon the handover. The previous legislative council was dissolved upon the handover, and a promotion committee appointed by the Chinese government elected all members of the ‘temporary legislative council.”

Since 2007, each political party has advanced a strategy to introduce universal suffrage, but the election form of direct election among candidates nominated in China was eventually selected. As a result, people in Hong Kong who wanted universal suffrage formed the umbrella movement.

Legislative Council Election

  • Following the Tiananmen Square incident, England established a policy of promoting Hong Kong’s democracy through negotiation with Beijing. At the time of the handover, the proportion of seats elected by universal suffrage had increased from “15 seats out of 60” to “20 seats out of 60.”
  • Among the Legislative Council’s 70 seats, 35 are elected directly by geographical constituencies and 35 by functional constituencies.

The functional constituency election is a restricted election in which only individuals with specified jobs are eligible to vote. Voters cast ballots based on their occupations, such as banking, insurance, or education. Only 3% of the population is eligible to vote.