London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Hong Kong government must be bolder after electoral overhaul

Hong Kong government must be bolder after electoral overhaul

He also advises incoming lawmakers to reconcile their different views, saying that ‘90 legislators have 90 different opinions’.
A former Hong Kong leader has called on the government to be bolder in pushing for reforms following Beijing’s overhaul of the electoral system to ensure only “patriots” held power.

Speaking a day ahead of Sunday’s Legislative Council poll, former chief executive Leung Chun-ying – a contender for head of the newly empowered Election Committee – said he expected the lawmaking body to become more effective following the political revamp.

“That’s why I hope the [Hong Kong] government can be bolder in pushing ahead with reforms and plan earlier in proposing bills, as the initiative often lies with them,” he said in an interview with Speakout HK, a pro-Beijing news platform founded by his supporters.

Leung said that although the city had an executive-led system, elected legislators should provide more suggestions and comments on reforms, and support the government in solving pressing issues such as the city’s shortage of affordable housing.

Leung also waded into the debate surrounding the electoral overhaul – which critics have branded an attempt to quash dissent – arguing that Hong Kong’s style of democracy could not be compared with that practised elsewhere on a national scale.

“If we need to compare the electoral system with Western countries, we can only compare cities with cities. We are a city. Although we are a special administrative region with a high degree of autonomy, we are not an independent country,” he said.

“Therefore, we can only compare the electoral system under Hong Kong’s democracy with London’s electoral system under London’s democracy … I believe that this is more appropriate.”

He went on to encourage incoming lawmakers to put their heads together and reconcile differing opinions. “Otherwise, it would be hard for the [Hong Kong] government to take their advice, as 90 legislators have 90 different opinions,” he added.

Leung said he hoped Hong Kong could finally implement long-shelved legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, which requires the city to pass its own national security law. Beijing imposed a separate national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, but the last attempt to enact local legislation under Article 23 was scuttled by massive protests.

“We have high-quality candidates in this election … I hope that they can get into Hong Kong society and gain the residents’ trust,” said Leung, who is also a vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the nation’s top political advisory body.

“Apart from discussing Hong Kong’s local issues, they could also look beyond the Shenzhen River and see how Hong Kong can coordinate and support the country.”

Leung, along with his predecessor Tung Chee-hwa, is seen as one of the front runners for the newly created post of chief convenor of the powerful Election Committee, a role that would represent the central government in solving any problems that might arise during elections.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×