A new era in Hong Kong’s elections culture

Kevin Lau says newly-elected Election Committee will ensure SAR's good governance and work to resolve city's economic and livelihood problem.

The first and foremost in a series of three important elections for Hong Kong's Election Committee, the Legislative Council and the chief executive went off fairly and without a hitch on Sunday.

The 2021 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections mark a new era in Hong Kong's rational elections culture. The elections are principled, representative and democratic with their own characteristics. It also showed the voters' continued confidence in the city's new electoral system.

The some 5,000 registered voters, who come from all walks of life, were enthusiastic in casting their ballots in the hope of choosing the best candidates who can well represent their voices and values in electing 40 new legislators in December this year and the city's next chief executive in March next year. Although only 412 candidates ran for 364 seats for 13 out of 40 subsectors in the expanded 1,500-member Election Committee, Sunday's polls saw fierce competition, with candidates canvassing for the public's support on the streets and attending online and offline forums to explain their platforms. They were not only soliciting backing merely from their respective professional groups as in the past. They now have to compete with more corporate and other group candidates instead of just individuals. They have demonstrated greater accountability to the community as a whole, campaigning on the strength of their policies and focusing on people's livelihood.

The new Election Committee will have a greater responsibility in ensuring Hong Kong's good governance and supervising the next administration. Before the local electoral system was revamped, the committee was largely a divided and dormant body, unable to play a crucial role in institutional advancement. Now, with the election of "patriots" to the committee after a thorough vetting process, their role in administering Hong Kong will be more prominent. With higher representativeness from grassroots associations, small-and-medium enterprises, district committees and organizations, associations of Hong Kong residents on the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong representatives of national organizations, the Election Committee will be sought for views on various policy issues.

The newly-elected 1,448 members are expected to truthfully reflect the demands of their industries and speak up boldly for their voters, make pragmatic and effective suggestions for Hong Kong to resolve economic and livelihood problems, advance social progress and promote Hong Kong's integration into national development.

For the common interests of both the HKSAR and the nation, just, fair and open elections should be reinforced in Hong Kong to exhibit the strength and dignity of the unique "one country, two systems" principle. This will allow a new pathway to be charted to substantially improve the local economy and people's livelihood.

The author is a radiologist and non-official member of the Commission on Poverty in Hong Kong.