What is LegCo in Hong Kong: A Quick Explanation.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Legislative Council serves as a law-making body with the mandate to create and amend statutes for the region. However, electoral processes for this body have seen a significant decline in substantive competing voices during a period of sweeping governance changes in the past few years.

Subsequent to the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, a model of "one country, two systems" was established, vowing that Hong Kong would maintain a level of self-governance. Gradually, critics contend that democratic rights have been systematically curtailed.

Significant Developments and Shifts

During 2014, legislation was tabled that aimed to allow residents to elect the city's leader. Critically, this process was limited to candidates vetted by central authorities.

In 2019 was marked by extensive unrest, including an incident where residents entered the parliamentary premises to demonstrate against a contentious extradition bill.

The Impact of the NSL

Passed in mid-2020, the security legislation granted new legal tools to central authorities over Hong Kong's governance. Conduct such as secession were criminalized. Following this law, the primary democratic party disbanded.

The Present Election Framework

LegCo elections are considered Hong Kong's main electoral event. Nevertheless, laws established in 2021 now guarantee that only candidates deemed "patriots" are eligible to stand for election.

• Seat Composition: At present, only 20 out of 90 seats are directly elected.
• Remaining Seats: The balance are chosen by a government-aligned body.
• New Rules: Recent proposed rules would mandate legislators to unequivocally back the mainland's oversight.

Electoral Turnout

Amid most avenues for dissent now restricted, voter abstention has emerged as one of the few safe ways for residents to register discontent. Consequently unprecedentedly low electoral engagement in recent LegCo polls.