Hong Kong: next legislature will ‘drive reform’

HONG Kong's leader said yesterday that the fresh crop of lawmakers who will take office after the “patriots only” legislative election will drive institutional reform, following the city’s deadliest fire in decades.

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The Chinese finance hub at the weekend held its second contest under electoral rules that Beijing imposed in 2021, which slashed directly elected seats and tightened political vetting for candidates.

Some 1.32 million of the 4.14 million registered voters cast ballots, slightly fewer than in the 2021 race.

However, the turnout rate edged up from last time’s record-low 30.2 percent to 31.9% thanks to a smaller population of voters.

A government publicity blitz for the election was halted in late November after a blaze tore through the housing blocks of Wang Fuk Court in northern Hong Kong, killing at least 159 people and displacing thousands.