The Hong Kong local elections (Chinese: 區議會選舉) are elections in Hong Kong for the members of District Councils (known as District Boards before 2000). First held in 1982, the elections are held at 4-year intervals. The last election was held on 10 December 2023. Most of district councilors were elected by general citizen on or before 2019. However, after 2023 local elections reform, general citizens can be only elect 88 seats out of 470 directly.
Background
editThe Green Paper: A Pattern of District Administration in Hong Kong was published on 6 June 1980 for public consultations on reforming local administration in Hong Kong. The Green Paper recommended that:[1] District Boards (區議會) be established in each district with some members of District Boards be returned by elections.
Upon the conclusion of public consultations, the White Paper: District Administration in Hong Kong in Hong Kong was published in January 1981 affirming the Government's commitment to establish District Boards in each district by March 1982. District Boards in New Territories were to be established by reconstituting existing District Consultation Committees.[2] The Government subsequently enacted the District Board Ordinance (Cap. 366) to provide for the formation of District Boards:
- to be composed of elected members, appointed or elected members of the Urban Council or chairmen of Rural Committees, appointed unofficial members and main official members of corresponding District Management Committees;
- to be formed by around 25-30 members, with an unofficial majority;
- to be initially chaired by officials, but chairmen to be elected among members as soon as possible; and
- with 1-2 members per constituency, elected through first-past-the-post voting or single non-transferable vote.
The first elections for District Boards on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon were held on 4 March 1982, while elections for District Boards in the New Territories were held on 23 September 1982.[3]
Electoral System
editThe elections are conducted by simple plurality since 1982, with each constituency having an average population of around 17,000 people. Changes to the composition and electoral system of elected District Council members are outlined as follows:
| Election | Voting system | Total number of elected seats | District magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | first-past-the-post voting / single non-transferable vote |
132 seats | 1-2 seats |
| 1985 | 237 seats | ||
| 1988 | 264 seats | ||
| 1991 | 274 seats | ||
| 1994 | first-past-the-post voting | 346 seats | 1 seat |
| 1999 | 390 seats | ||
| 2003 | 400 seats | ||
| 2007 | 405 seats | ||
| 2011 | 412 seats | ||
| 2015 | 431 seats | ||
| 2019 | 452 seats | ||
| 2023 | 88 seats (Directly elected) 176 seats (Indirectly elected) 179 appointed 27 Ex-officio |
Electoral Results
edit| Election | Largest faction in elected seats |
Composition of elected seats (by alignment) |
% of popular vote won by the largest faction in elected seats |
Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Pro-Beijing camp | 146:4:196
|
54.12% | 33.14% |
| 1999 | 157:1:232
|
54.69% | 35.82% | |
| 2003 | 198:1:201
|
46.48% | 44.10% | |
| 2007 | 127:2:276
|
53.98% | 38.83% | |
| 2011 | 103:8:301
|
55.42% | 41.49% | |
| 2015 | 126:7:298
|
54.61% | 47.01% | |
| 2019 | Pro-democracy camp | 388:2:62
|
57.09% | 71.23% |
| 2023 | Pro-Beijing camp | 470
|
100% | 27.54% |
Division of Districts and Constituencies
editA total of 18 District Councils were established, each with 11 to 37 elected members depending on the respective population. Historically, there were 19 District Councils but Mong Kok District Council was merged with the Yau Tsim District Council to form the Yau Tsim Mong District Council, named after a neologism that incorporates words from three major areas of the district into its name.
Existing District Councils are listed as follows:
Hong Kong Island
Kowloon (including New Kowloon)
- Kowloon City District
- Kwun Tong District
- Sham Shui Po District
- Wong Tai Sin District
- Yau Tsim Mong District
New Territories (excluding New Kowloon)
Nominations
editLists for parties and for individuals may be nominated during a two-week nomination period ending five weeks before polling day.
Candidacy requirement
editCandidates have to fulfill the following requirements:[4]
- has reached 21 years of age;
- is a permanent resident of Hong Kong;
- is registered and eligible for registration as an elector for geographical constituencies;
- has ordinary resided in Hong Kong for the 3 years immediately preceding the nomination; and
- does not hold office as the chairman of a Rural Committee
References
edit- ^ The Hong Kong Government (1980). Green Paper: A Pattern of District Administration in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Government Printer.
- ^ The Hong Kong Government (1981). White Paper: District Administration in Hong Kong in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Government Printer.
- ^ "District Board Ordinance (Cap. 366)". Hong Kong e-Legislation.
- ^ [1], "Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the District Council Elections", Electoral Affairs Commission