2023 Hong Kong local elections
10 December 2023
All Elected Constituencies
264 (of the 470) seats in all Districts Councils
Registered4,329,710[1] Increase4.76%
 
Leader Gary Chan Ng Chau-pei Tommy Cheung
Party DAB FTU Liberal
Alliance Pro-Beijing Pro-Beijing Pro-Beijing
Last election 21 seats, 16.78% 5 seats, 4.39% 5 seats, 0.94%
Current seats 21 5 5
  Regina Ip Gary Zhang
Leader Lo Wai-kwok Regina Ip Gary Zhang
Party BPA NPP/CF New Prospect
Alliance Pro-Beijing Pro-Beijing Pro-Beijing
Last election 3 seats, 2.27% 0 seat, 2.97% New party
Current seats 3 (elected seats) 0 0

The 2023 Hong Kong District Council elections are scheduled on 10 December 2023 for all 18 District Councils of Hong Kong.[2]

The electoral changes passed earlier in the year revived appointed seats in the deliberation bodies, introduced seats elected by government-appointed District Committees, and tightened eligibility with vetting and mandatory nomination from the District Committee members. As a result, this is the first election in Hong Kong contested by pro-Beijing candidates only, as the pro-democracy camp, which won a landslide in the last election amidst protests, had faced challenges since under the national security law, and under the new electoral rules, both pro-democracy and moderate parties failed earn enough nominations to enter the race.

Background

In the previous District Council elections, in 2019, the pro-democracy camp in conjunction with the localist camp achieved its biggest landslide victory in the history of Hong Kong, gaining absolute majority in votes and electoral seats in all of the 18 District Councils and tripling their seats from around 124 to about 388 amid the highly intensified territory-wide anti-government protests. In response, the Beijing government installed the far-reaching Hong Kong national security law and the massive overhaul of the city's electoral system.

In May 2021, the Hong Kong government passed the Public Offices (Candidacy and Taking Up Offices) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2021 to imposes oath-taking requirements on District Council members. Six months before the bill passage, dozens of opposition District Councillors resigned for refusal to take an oath under the new law.[3]

In early July 2021, the government reportedly considered banning 230 councillors to take oath of office and would ask them return their accrued salaries which worth around a million dollars. Such reports triggered a mass resignation of more than 260 pro-democracy councillors, while eight other had been unseated as they were in custody or had left the city.[4]

Following four oath-taking ceremonies starting in early September, oaths taken by 49 District Councillors were ruled invalid without any explanation. Together with the councillors who resigned, fled and imprisoned, it left a total of more than 70 per cent seats in the 18 District Councils vacant. Under the amended Oaths and Declarations Ordinance, the disqualified District Councillors would be banned from standing in elections for the next five years.[5]

The pro-Beijing camp was able to take back control of several councils, including Kowloon City, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai and North District.[6] The number of the members in some councils also reduced significantly, Wong Tai Sin to just two members, Central and Western District to three members, and Southern District to four, which paralysed some of the functions of these councils.[7] Nevertheless, Chief Executive Carrie Lam in July 2021 announced that no by-election would be held during her tenure.[8]

Election overhaul

Changes to the composition of the District Councils:
2019 election (479 seats)
  •   Directly elected (452)
  •   Ex-officio (Chairmen of Rural Committee) (27)
2023 election (470 seats)
  •   Directly elected (88)
  •   Ex-officio (Chairmen of Rural Committee) (27)
  •   Indirectly elected (Electoral College of District Committees) (176)
  •   Appointed (179)

On 2 May 2023, Chief Executive John Lee announced a major revamp of the District Council electoral system to prevent the councils from being "manipulated and paralysed" by those promoting "separatism" and violence, safeguard national security and implement the principle of "patriots running Hong Kong". Under the plan, the number of the elected seats will be significantly reduced to around 20 per cent, while each of the 40 per cent of the seats will be returned by indirect elections and appointed by the Chief Executive.[9]

A total of 88 directly-elected seats in 44 constituencies will be returned by double-seat single-vote system, while 176 indirectly-elected seats will be elected by members of the government-appointed District Committees, or "three committees" (Chinese: 三會), namely the District Fight Crime Committees (DFCCs), the District Fire Safety Committees (DFSCs), the Area Committees (ACs), in the respective district by block vote. All candidates must obtain three nominations from each of the three committees besides more than 50 local voters and confirm their eligibility through an eligibility review committee to decide whether a candidate complies with the legal requirements and conditions of upholding the Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the government.[10]

On 28 September, David Lok Kai-hong, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), said the opening hours for the District Council elections will run from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., an hour less when compared to the previous term in 2019 but the same as that of the Legislative Council election in 2021.[11]

Composition

Districts Geographical Constituencies District Committees Constituencies Seats Appointed Seats Ex-officio Seats Total Seats ±
Constituencies Seats
Central and Western Central, Western 4 8 8 — 20 Increase5
Wan Chai Wan Chai 2 4 4 — 10 Decrease3
Eastern Tai Pak, Hong Wan, Chai Wan 6 12 12 — 30 Decrease5
Southern Southern District Southeast, Southern District Northwest 4 8 8 — 20 Increase3
Yau Tsim Mong Yau Tsim Mong South, Yau Tsim Mong North 4 8 8 — 20 Steady0
Sham Shui Po Sham Shui Po West, Sham Shui Po East 4 8 8 — 20 Decrease5
Kowloon City Kowloon City North, Kowloon City South 4 8 8 — 20 Decrease5
Wong Tai Sin Wong Tai Sin East, Wong Tai Sin West 4 8 8 — 20 Decrease5
Kwun Tong Kwun Tong Southeast, Kwun Tong Central, Kwun Tong North, Kwun Tong West 8 16 16 — 40 Steady0
Tsuen Wan Tsuen Wan Northwest, Tsuen Wan Southeast 4 8 8 2 22 Increase1
Tuen Mun Tuen Mun East, Tuen Mun West, Tuen Mun North 6 12 13 1 32 Steady0
Yuen Long Yuen Long Town Centre, Yuen Long Rural East, Tin Shui Wai South and Ping Ha, Tin Shui Wai North 8 16 16 6 46 Increase1
North Wu Tip Shan, Robin's Nest 4 8 8 4 24 Increase2
Tai Po Tai Po South, Tai Po North 4 8 8 2 22 Increase1
Sai Kung Sai Kung and Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O South, Tseung Kwan O North 6 12 12 2 32 Increase1
Sha Tin Sha Tin West, Sha Tin East, Sha Tin South, Sha Tin North 8 16 17 1 42 Steady0
Kwai Tsing Tsing Yi, Kwai Chung East, Kwai Chung West 6 12 13 1 32 Steady0
Islands Islands 2 4 4 8 18 Steady0
Total 88 176 179 27 470 Decrease9

Contesting parties

Nominations

The Electoral Affairs Commission received 400 nominations in the nomination period, 228 of which were running for the 176 seats in the District Committee constituencies indirectly elected by some 2,500 members of the "three committees" and 171 for the 88 seats in the 44 geographical constituencies directly elected 4.3 million registered voters.[19][25] None of the candidates was from the opposition camp, which first joined the local elections in 1985.[26][27] According to Hong Kong Free Press's calculation, more than 75 per cent of the geographical constituencies candidates were also members of the three committees which were responsible for nominating candidates.[19]

The pro-democracy parties which intended to run had experienced difficulties in seeking nominations from the members of the "three committees", many of which came from the pro-Beijing parties,[28][29] as the Home Affairs Department refused to disclose personal contact details citing the "privacy of personal data".[28]

The Democratic Party became the first remaining pro-democracy party to announce that they would contest in the election with six candidates, two less than expected.[30][31] However on 30 October, it announced that none of its candidates had succeeded in getting the nominations from the "three committees" required to run.[19][29][32] As a result, the party would be absent in the district council election for the first time since its establishment in 1994.[29][33]

Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL) was second in the pro-democracy camp to declare the intention to join the elections by filling two candidates.[34] Neither of its candidates was able to enter the race.

Third Side, the only non-establishment party in the legislature, abandoned the campaign as three hopefuls could not receive enough nominations.[19]

Even pro-Beijing legislator Michael Tien complained about candidates from his party Roundtable being unable to obtain nominations from the "three committees" members.[15] Roundtable had hoped to field five candidates, but only one of its members had got the number of nominations required to stand.[19]

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, on 30 October said there were "recognised standards" for patriots and “it would be impossible for someone, or some political parties, who were opposing Hong Kong and China, to become patriotic just for chanting certain slogans overnight".[26][32]

Voter turnout

In November 2023, after some experts predicted record low voter turnout, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan said that Hong Kong's 170,000 civil servants "are duty-bound to vote, and they should lead by example to let the public know about the importance of voting."[35] Pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) politician Starry Lee refused to predict the voter turnout, but said "I have received only positive feedback from residents" and that it was a "good sign" that election promoting was carried out "in a healthy way."[35]

Chief Executive John Lee also asked for civil servants to boost voter turnout, stating "It is also a civic responsibility to vote, that's why we have asked civil servants to demonstrate that civic responsibility to come out to vote."[36] Lee avoided answering a question on whether low voter turnout would discredit the new voting system, and both Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak and Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang said that low voter turnout was not necessarily a failure.[37] Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung also appealed to retired civil servants to vote as "it is their civic responsibility to do so".[38]

The Hong Kong government on 28 November announced a series of activities, including outdoor music performances, a drone show and a Security Bureau-themed photograph exhibition, on 12 December, a day before the polling day, in an attempt to "further enhance the election atmosphere".[39]

Results

Overview of outcome

Summary of the 10 December 2023 District Councils of Hong Kong election results
Political Affiliation Geographical Constituencies District Committees Appointed
& Ex-officio		 Total seats
Popular
vote		 % % ± Standing Elected ± Electoral
vote		 % Standing Elected
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong 44 77
Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions 25 21
New People's Party–Civil Force 17 12
Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong 10 10
New Prospect for Hong Kong 5 – – – –
Liberal Party 4 3
Professional Power 3 – – – –
Federation of Public Housing Estates 2 1
Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions 1 1
Roundtable 1 –
Path of Democracy 1 – – – –
Bauhinia Party 1 – – – –
Kowloon West New Dynamic –––––– 1
Pro-Beijing Independents 58 102
Total 172 88 Decrease364 228 176 206 470
Total valid votes
Invalid votes
Total votes / turnout
Registered voters
Source

Results by district

Council Previous
control		 Previous
party		 Post-election
control		 Largest
party		DABFTUNPP/CFBPANPHKLibOthers Pro-demPro-BeijingAppointed & Ex-officioComposition
Central & Western Pro-democracy Liberal Pro-Beijing 0+0 4+8 8+N/A




Wan Chai Pro-Beijing Liberal Pro-Beijing 0+0 2+4 4+N/A




Eastern NOC NOC Pro-Beijing 0+0 6+12 12+N/A




Southern Pro-Beijing Liberal Pro-Beijing 0+0 4+8 8+N/A




Yau Tsim Mong Pro-democracy Democratic Pro-Beijing 0+0 4+8 8+N/A




Sham Shui Po NOC NOC Pro-Beijing 0+0 4+8 8+N/A




Kowloon City Pro-Beijing DAB Pro-Beijing 0+0 4+8 8+N/A




Wong Tai Sin Pro-democracy ADPL Pro-Beijing 0+0 4+8 8+N/A




Kwun Tong Pro-Beijing DAB Pro-Beijing 0+0 8+16 16+N/A




Tsuen Wan NOC NOC Pro-Beijing 0+0 4+8 8+2




Tuen Mun NOC ADPL Pro-Beijing 0+0 6+12 13+1




Yuen Long Pro-Beijing NOC Pro-Beijing 0+0 8+16 16+6




North Pro-Beijing NOC Pro-Beijing 0+0 4+8 8+4




Tai Po Pro-democracy TPDA Pro-Beijing 0+0 4+8 8+2




Sai Kung NOC CGPLTKO Pro-Beijing 0+0 6+12 12+2




Sha Tin Pro-democracy Democratic Pro-Beijing 0+0 8+16 17+1




Kwai Tsing Pro-Beijing DAB Pro-Beijing 0+0 6+12 13+1




Islands Pro-Beijing DAB Pro-Beijing 0+0 2+4 4+8




TOTAL 0 264 206




Vote summary

Popular vote

Seat summary

Percentage of seats

References

  1. ↑ "Voter Registration Statistics". Registration and Electoral Office.
  2. ↑ "區議會選舉12月10日舉行". 香港政府新聞網. 2023-07-24.
  3. ↑ "全港區議員快要宣誓 逾30人已辭職或表明拒誓 但民主派主導區議會形勢不變". 法廣. 2021-05-13.
  4. ↑ "Hong Kong's remaining district councillors must take oaths of loyalty to gov't from Fri". Hong Kong Free Press. 7 September 2021.
  5. ↑ "16 more Hong Kong democratically-elected district councillors ousted over loyalty oaths, as democrats left in the minority". Hong Kong Free Press. 21 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "【專欄】區議員辭職逾230人已近「達標」". 星島日報. 2021-07-14.
  7. ↑ "區議會辭職潮後　11區50會議無法召開　形同停擺". on.cc. 2021-09-06.
  8. ↑ "【國安時代】林鄭月娥表明今屆政府不補選區議會　被問移民潮稱香港前境很好". 自由亞洲電台. 2021-07-20.
  9. ↑ "Hong Kong's district councils to be chaired by government officials, hopefuls seeking fewer directly elected seats to undergo vetting". South China Morning Post. 2 May 2023.
  10. ↑ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BRIEF - IMPROVING GOVERNANCE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL (PDF). Legislative Council of Hong Kong. 2 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "Voting time for coming District Council elections shortened by an hour". The Standard. 28 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "民建聯公布122人區議會參選名單". RTHK. 2023-10-16.
  13. ↑ "區議會選舉｜經民聯20人參選　盧偉國︰有地區網絡爭提名無難度". 香港01. 2023-10-27.
  14. ↑ "工聯會公布46人名單參選區議會". RTHK. 2023-10-16.
  15. 1 2 "田北辰呻冇「三會」提名 葉劉淑儀：其實佢可以過嚟搵我哋". 獨立媒體. 2023-10-20.
  16. ↑ "區選提名期展開 邵家輝冀各方努力讓更多人在區選投票". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  17. ↑ "勞聯派2人參選老巢深水埗 一人戰元朗間選". 獨立媒體. 2023-10-20.
  18. ↑ "新民黨拒提名實政圓桌 田北辰稱食兩次檸檬 形容事件是鬧劇". Inmedia. 2023-10-26.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Exclusive: 75% of direct-election candidates in Hong Kong District Council race sit on committees that decide who runs". Hong Kong Free Press. 30 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "區選｜專業動力派3人出選西貢區直選　有信心取得議席　冀不同聲音進入議會". 有線新聞. 2023-10-27.
  21. ↑ "【區議會選舉】香港新方向5人參選 前公民黨李煒林不入名單稱「仲觀望緊」". 獨立媒體. 2023-10-12.
  22. ↑ "區議會選舉｜民主思路提名「好快有」　陳琬琛維持兩提名感不樂觀". 香港01. 2023-10-23.
  23. ↑ 潘耀昇 (2023-10-12). "區議會選舉｜紫荊黨擬派人參選區議會 「海歸派」首戰本港選舉". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  24. ↑ "區議會選舉｜消息：紫荊黨吳振輝出戰大埔北直選　獲提名本周報名 原文網址: 區議會選舉". 香港01. 2023-10-23.
  25. ↑ "400 nomination forms for District Council Ordinary Election received by deadline". Government of Hong Kong. 30 October 2023.
  26. 1 2 "Beijing says it would welcome people formerly hostile to Hong Kong and mainland China to election process if it was proved they had changed their ways". South China Morning Post. 31 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "新香港區會參選人「清一色」建制 民主派38年來首次無法參選 外圍建制亦被削". RFI - 法國國際廣播電台 (in Traditional Chinese). 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  28. 1 2 "Hong Kong gov't slammed for refusing to disclose details of nominating parties ahead of 'patriots' District Council race". Hong Kong Free Press. 9 October 2023.
  29. 1 2 3 "Il principale partito pro-democrazia di Hong Kong è stato escluso dalle elezioni locali". Il Post (in Italian). 31 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  30. ↑ "Hong Kong's Democratic Party fields fewer-than-expected candidates for coming polls". South China Morning Post. 2023-10-15. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  31. ↑ "Hong Kong Democratic Party endorses 8 candidates for first 'patriots-only' district council election". Hong Kong Free Press. 21 September 2023.
  32. 1 2 Leung, Kanis (31 October 2023). "Hong Kong leader defends new election rules even though biggest pro-democracy party can't join race". ABC News. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  33. ↑ Associated Press (31 October 2023). "Hong Kong leader defends elections after largest pro-democracy party shut out". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  34. ↑ "Hong Kong opposition parties struggle for district council poll support". South China Morning Post. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  35. 1 2 "Hong Kong civil servants 'are duty-bound to vote in district council election'". South China Morning Post. 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  36. ↑ Tse, Hans (2023-11-21). "'Patriots' District Council election: Civil servants should 'lead by example' and vote, Hong Kong John Lee says". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  37. ↑ "Officials going all out to get Hongkongers to vote in district council poll: Lee". South China Morning Post. 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  38. ↑ "Retired civil servants have a duty to vote: govt". Radio Television Hong Kong. 2023-11-26.
  39. ↑ "Concerts, drone show, and free museum visits to promote Hong Kong's 'patriots' District Council race". Hong Kong Free Press. 28 November 2023.
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