Editorial | Onus on revamped Hong Kong district councils to come up with goods
- Bodies constituted under ‘patriot only’ governance model must show they can better manage municipal affairs and reflect different views of society in the city
The controversial revamp of lower-tier political bodies has been formally endorsed by the legislature. The passage, officials said, marked the end of the havoc wreaked by anti-China factions across the city’s 18 district councils.
The onus is now on the government to show how the new structure constituted under the “patriot only” governance model can better manage municipal affairs and continue to reflect different views in society.
It says something when the sweeping changes are accepted unanimously without modification after just two months of scrutiny. This is perhaps not surprising, though; as lawmakers were also chosen along the same principles imposed by Beijing following the social unrest in 2019.
The government was adamant that the reform had public support, referring to the more than 1 million signatures gathered by its allies and the 99 per cent positive views received in consultations. But among the “silent majority” are those who disagree, feeling indifferent or merely watching how it pans out.
The new councils will be made up of 470 members, with the directly elected seats slashed to less than one-fifth. The remainder will either be appointed by the chief executive or picked by 2,490 members of three district committees stacked with Beijing loyalists.
