HK's Drastic District Council Overhaul

There won't be as many ballots to count in new elections

I still remember standing in line, patiently waiting to get into the voting station in Kennedy Town to mark my ballot for the 2019 District Council elections.

After peaceful protests against the proposed extradition bill fell on the government's deaf ears and eyes, and then protesters faced off with the police using guerrilla tactics that resulted in clashes all over the city, Hong Kong residents made their voices heard on November 24, 2019.

Long lines of people waiting to vote in 2019

An unprecedented 2.94 million people out of 4.13 million registered voters cast their votes and the results were overwhelmingly pro-democratic. Seventeen out of the 18 districts turned yellow overnight, completely upending the pro-establishment's belief that the "silent majority" would show up at the ballot box.

The district councillors who were voted in did not have much political power -- they were only focused on the areas they were responsible for, such as suggesting where traffic lights could be installed, improving garbage disposal, and rounding up sweaters and thermoses for the elderly. But it was the symbolism of how the election was seen as a referendum on the protests.

Nevertheless, the results infuriated Beijing and in 2021 the government introduced an oath-taking requirement, where district councillors had to pledge allegiance to the city. This led to their mass resignation, and now only one-third of the 18 districts still have elected representatives.

Residents celebrate 2019 results of DC elections

But not to worry -- the government has overhauled how district councillors are chosen, and the vast majority will not be voted in anymore. Only 20 percent will be picked via the ballot box, compared to 90 percent four years ago.

The 20 percent is even lower than in the 1980s when the district councils were set up when Hong Kong was under the British.

The rest of the 470 seats will be filled by government appointees, rural committee chairpersons, and others elected by local committees that are staffed by pro-establishment figures.

This is Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's method of overhauling the system.

"I do not agree that pure counting [of] election votes mean democracy," he said. "Different places have their own systems that must take into consideration of all the characteristics and all the elements of that place."

Lee (centre) says only 20 percent of seats elected

What does that even mean?

Hong Kong residents exercised their right to vote at the time and those were the results. Lo Kin-hei, chairman of the Democratic Party, says the public will be disappointed by the drastic drop in the number of elected seats, which will result in fewer people willing to run for district councillor.

Will this overhaul help the city improve its living conditions for its residents with these appointed officials, or is the exercise to show Beijing how politically correct Hong Kong has become?