Hong Kong District Council Elections 2023 | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

Plans to overhaul the District Council elections were unveiled in May 2023 to ensure only “patriots” were elected, following a pro-democracy landslide at the last polls in 2019. The number of seats chosen democratically by the public was slashed to around 20 per cent, with the rest chosen by the city’s leader and government-appointed committees.

Explainer: The ‘patriots-only’ District Council race

Constituency boundaries were redrawn, the opposition were shut out, and each local council is to be chaired by a government official, similar to colonial-era arrangements. All candidates undergo national security vetting to ensure patriotism.

LATEST NEWS and VIEWS

Veteran Hong Kong activist Koo Sze-yiu jailed for 9 months over planned protest against District Council race

Koo Sze-yiu, 78, was sentenced to nine months in prison under the sedition law for planning to take a home-made coffin to protest the overhauled District Council race last December.

by Hans Tse 19:22, 16 February 202419:22, 16 February 2024

Veteran Hong Kong activist Koo Sze-yiu to face verdict over planned protest against ‘unfair’ District Council race

Koo Sze-yiu, 77, had described the District Council election as “unfair.” He did not give evidence in the trial and said he was ready to accept his “14th imprisonment.”

by Kelly Ho 18:05, 6 February 202418:06, 6 February 2024

Censorship, AI, disinformation, and repression undermine Asian elections in 2024

“A key takeaway from Asia’s election experience is the need to revisit existing media laws being weaponised to justify censorship and judicial tyranny,” writes Mong Palatino.

by Guest Contributor 12:15, 29 January 202415:33, 1 February 2024

Glitch in Hong Kong’s ‘patriots’ District Council election was caused by system overload, investigation finds

The results of the investigation followed the District Council elections in December, which saw the lowest voter turnout in post-colonial history. Only those deemed “patriots” by the government were allowed to run.

by Irene Chan 12:02, 29 January 202412:02, 29 January 2024

Hong Kong woman given suspended sentence over reposting call to boycott ‘patriots’ District Council election

Yeung Sze-wing, 51, received a two-month sentence suspended for two years on Monday. Magistrate Ivy Chui said Yeung’s attempt to influence the election was not acceptable, adding that “a fair election hinged on residents’ sincere voting.”

by Hans Tse 16:48, 22 January 202416:48, 22 January 2024

Hong Kong’s overhauled District Council election could have higher turnout if not for system glitch, lawmaker says

by Hillary Leung 18:14, 17 January 202418:53, 17 January 2024

Taiwan KMT election hopefuls say Hong Kong’s One Country, Two Systems ‘a failure,’ warn island on ‘brink of war’

by Mercedes Hutton 21:30, 11 January 202417:54, 4 March 2024

District councillors told to support legislation of city’s own security law as they swear allegiance to Hong Kong

by Irene Chan 12:30, 2 January 202418:54, 2 January 2024

FEATURES

Explainer: How Hong Kong’s District Council electoral overhaul gives new power to 3 gov’t-appointed committees

by Peter Lee

Shifting Narratives: How the official attitude to Hong Kong’s District Councils changed

by Candice Chau

Explainer: Hong Kong’s first ‘patriots-only’ District Council race

by James Lee

Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 42

10:00, 1 January 202417:55, 4 March 2024

2023 In Pictures: A year of post-pandemic firsts as Hong Kong emerged from lengthy Covid-related isolation

11:00, 25 December 202315:44, 29 December 2023

‘Stirring up social conflicts’ against the rules for Hong Kong’s incoming district councillors under new guidelines

18:41, 19 December 202318:42, 19 December 2023

Chinese leader Xi Jinping praises Hong Kong’s John Lee for safeguarding nat. security, ‘patriots’ District Council race

18:41, 19 December 202318:41, 19 December 2023

Over 25% of gov’t appointments to Hong Kong’s ‘patriots’ District Council lost to pro-democracy rivals in 2019

16:44, 13 December 202316:45, 13 December 2023

Beijing and Hong Kong officials hail winners of ‘patriots-only’ District Council elections, as opposition shut out

16:25, 12 December 202313:01, 13 December 2023

Lowest-ever turnout for Hong Kong’s District Council election; 6 arrests during opposition-free polls

17:59, 11 December 202317:53, 11 January 2024

HKFP Lens: Hong Kong’s first ‘patriots-only’ District Council election

16:00, 11 December 202316:18, 11 December 2023

Over 90% of Hong Kong’s newly elected district councillors sit on the three committees that decide who runs

15:00, 11 December 202316:01, 11 December 2023

Hong Kong activist Koo Sze-yiu denied bail following arrest over plan to protest District Council race

13:20, 11 December 202311:15, 14 December 2023

Hong Kong’s largest pro-Beijing party wins over 40 per cent of elected seats in opposition-free District Council race

13:04, 11 December 202313:04, 11 December 2023

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COMMENTARY and ANALYSIS

Despite diversity pledges, even the moderates have been shut out of Hong Kong’s revamped District Council poll

“Transparency is important for building trust and legitimacy and is the bedrock of accountable government. Surely the authorities owe the people of Hong Kong more information about how they selected candidates for our District Council elections,” writes John Burns.

11:00, 11 November 202314:40, 7 December 2023

District Council overhaul: Hong Kong never had democracy, but that is no reason to deny it

“Election winners do not rush to change the election system. Losers are quite another matter, losers who have lost really badly are even more desperate for change,” writes Stephen Vines.

10:30, 21 May 202311:57, 15 June 2023

District Council overhaul: Remembering the failures of Hong Kong’s democratic experiments

“The plan to reform the district councils is not a democratic regression. The British administration never intended Hong Kong to be democratic and there was no agreement between China and Britain on the city’s democratic development,” writes lawmaker Regina Ip.

10:28, 21 May 202317:33, 21 August 2023

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