Hong Kong Prime Minister John Lee called on all voters this Sunday (July 12, 2025) to go to the polls in the eighth Legislative Council elections. Low voter turnout is expected following the severe fire at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex that killed 159 people less than two weeks ago.
The appointment marks the second application of electoral reforms introduced by Beijing in 2021, which reduced seats elected through general elections from 35 to 20, increased the weight of indirect mechanisms and transformed the election into one in which “only patriotic (candidates)” can take part.
Lee, who cast his vote at a polling station in the Mid-Levels District early this morning, urged people to go to the polls, assuring the press that these elections were “a vote for reform, a vote to protect victims of the Wang Fuk Court fire, and a vote to join forces and move forward.”
According to the Hong Kong leader, his government will submit a victim support and reconstruction proposal once the new Legislative Council is formed early next year.
Authorities have extended opening hours, opened new centers and asked businesses to make voting easier to encourage participation in these elections, which are held every four years to renew the body responsible for passing laws, overseeing the government and considering budgets.
Low participation
By midday, the day had passed without incident and 426,900 voters had cast their votes, representing a turnout of 10.3%, almost a point higher than at this point in the 2021 election.
These elections saw a record voter turnout of 30.2%. Authorities fear that turnout will be repeated today because of the fire, which has thrown government leadership into question after initial investigations revealed serious technical irregularities.
Although the executive initially considered the possibility of postponing the elections after the devastating fire, it ultimately decided to keep them on the scheduled date, arguing that holding the elections demonstrates institutional maturity and that the process can coexist with respect for the victims and management of the emergency.
In total, 161 candidates are competing for 90 seats: 51 in territorial constituencies, 60 in functional constituencies and 50 appointees by the electoral committee in which profiles related to the central government predominate.
Functional constituencies represent certain professional groups, economic sectors or special interests and only registered voters in these sectors can vote in them, which has been criticized for their limited representativeness in favor of corporate and elite interests.
mg (efe, ap)
About The Author
