Hong Kong SAR, China flag Hong Kong SAR, China: Economic and Political Overview

The political framework of Hong Kong SAR, China

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders
Head of State: President of China, Xi Jinping (since 14 March 2013) - Chinese Communist Party
Chief Executive: John Lee Ka-Chiu (since 1 July 2022).
Next Election Dates
President: March 2028
Chief Executive: 2027
Legislative Council: December 2025
Current Political Context
Beijing has used a number of measures to pull Hong Kong into political alignment with the Chinese Communist Party after the national security law went into effect in 2020, marking the end of years of work. This trend has since been intensified.
In March 2021, the National People's Assembly of China issued a resolution on Hong Kong election reforms, which led to an amendment of Hong Kong's electoral system, including the Legislative Council. The reform increased the number of seats (70 to 90) but reduced the number of those who are directly elected (35 to 20), without any coming from the local council. The electoral committee elects 40 seats, while 30 remain functional trade-based constituencies. Furthermore, the new process for examining potential candidates for parliamentary elections allows only government-approved candidates to run for office. With no opposition presence in the LegCo, the current government, led by John Lee since May 2022, is anticipated to experience unchallenged political stability until the forthcoming elections in 2025.
The Safeguarding National Security Bill was unanimously approved by the Legislative Council in March 2024. China's control over the city's liberties and rights was further solidified by this law. In addition, in the biggest trial under the 2020 national security law, the High Court found 14 pro-democracy activists guilty on May 30.
Main Political Parties
Hong Kong is not independent of Chinese politics. As such, there are no governing political parties. Legislative matters are largely carried out through the business or professional sectors; political parties will often officially register under the auspices of a company or business corporation. The main parties include:

- Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB): centre to centre-right, conservative, pro-government
- Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions (HKCTU): liberal, pro-government
- Business and Professional Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA): conservative, liberal
- Liberal Party (LP): centre-right, conservative
- New Territories Association of Societies (NTAS): Chinese nationalist, conservatism
- Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW): pro-Beijing teachers union
- Roundtable (RT): moderate, conservative
- Professional Power (PP): centrist
- Kowloon West New Dynamic (KWND): centre-right
- New Prospect (NPHK): conservatism
- New Century Forum (NCF-1): middle-class-oriented political group.
Executive Power
The territory is governed by a Chief Executive, elected for five years by a college of 1,500 large voters including parliamentarians, eminent personalities and representatives of the professional sectors. The Chief Executive represents Hong Kong to the authorities of the People's Republic of China.

The government answers to the Chief Executive and comprises 15 policy bureaux, each headed by a Secretary. In hierarchical order, the three main government posts are the Chief Secretary (who is second to the Chief Executive), the Financial Secretary and the Secretary for Justice. If the Chief Executive is unable to conduct his functions temporarily, they will be conducted in this order of precedence by the title holders of the main posts.

In addition, the Chief Executive is assisted by an Executive Council or Exco which includes official members (the 15 Secretaries) and non-official members appointed by the Chief Executive selected among personalities from the business world or from civil companies. The Exco serves as the Council of Ministers by being the venue for the formulation of the government's policies. This council is consulted for all important political decisions. It meets once a week, under the chairmanship of the Chief Executive who should specially justify his decisions in case of disagreement with the majority of its members.

Legislative Power
The unicameral legislative power is conferred to a Legislative Council (LegCo). The Legislative Council is composed of 90 members elected for 4 years, with 20 Members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections, 40 by election committee and 30 by functional constituencies. The President of the Legislative Council is elected by and from among Members of the Legislative Council.

The council votes for and amends laws and can also introduce any new proposal. It examines and approves the budget, taxes and public expenditure. It is also responsible for monitoring the conduct of the Chief Executive and ensuring the Government appropriately applies its policy. The absence of political responsibility of the ministers can make the Legislative Council limit the control exercised by this assembly on the executive power.

Members are on the Council for four years. The Government is dependent on parliament's support, which is often given through a vote of confidence. The Chief Executive does have the power to dissolve the Legislative Council, but only under specific circumstances, such as if the LegCo refuses to pass a budget or an important bill. He cannot refuse to sign a bill which has been voted in by two-thirds of the parliament.

 

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

Definition:

The world rankings, published annually, measures violations of press freedom worldwide. It reflects the degree of freedom enjoyed by journalists, the media and digital citizens of each country and the means used by states to respect and uphold this freedom. Finally, a note and a position are assigned to each country. To compile this index, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) prepared a questionnaire incorporating the main criteria (44 in total) to assess the situation of press freedom in a given country. This questionnaire was sent to partner organisations,150 RWB correspondents, journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists. It includes every kind of direct attacks against journalists and digital citizens (murders, imprisonment, assault, threats, etc.) or against the media (censorship, confiscation, searches and harassment etc.).

World Rank:
80/180
 

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Latest Update: February 2025