As election looms, 22 incumbent HK lawmakers bow out of race

Move comes amid talk of Beijing setting age limit for those who will serve in new term

- Magdalene Fung Hong Kong Correspondent

Just before Hong Kong begins nominations for its December Legislative Council (LegCo) election, a quarter of its 89 incumbent lawmakers have already bowed out of the race.

Twenty-two lawmakers have announced their decision not to run for reelection in the Dec 7 polls, for which a two-week nomination period starts on Oct 24.

Their decision comes amid talk that Beijing is seeking to rejuvenate the city’s “patriots only” legislature and has set an age limit for those who will serve in the new term.

Ten of the incumbents not seeking reelection are aged at least 70, while the rest are all younger.

Those who have decided not to run cite plans to return to their previous work or to focus on other ways of contributing to their communities. Only two sitting legislators aged 70 and above have yet to make clear if they will run: Mrs Regina Ip, 75, and Mr Lai Tung Kwok, 73, both of whom are former security ministers.

Mrs Ip - a vocal, sometimes-controversial lawmaker who has previously supported a Bill to recognise some rights for same-sex unions that was later vetoed by the legislature — had until recently been “fully expected” to seek reelection, according to Professor John Burns, emeritus professor of politics and public administration at the University of Hong Kong.

But that now seems uncertain.

Mrs Ip made the news on Oct 13 when she appeared visibly upset by reporters’ repeated questions on whether she would run, curtly telling them to “move aside; stop harassing me”.

Hong Kong media cite anonymous political sources as saying that septuagenarian legislators are being pressured to step down as those aged above 70 will be barred from the race.