London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 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
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×