With less than three weeks left of the current Legislative Council term, speculation is high about who’s in and who’s out for the next Legco. Elections are due to take place on December 7.
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However, before voters head to the polls, candidates must first clinch their nominations from the Election Committee. To run for either the Election Committee, functional or geographical constituencies, a person must get nominated by at least two Election Committee members from each of the committee’s five sectors. And that is why political observers are currently searching for hints of Beijing’s “blessing”.
The “blessed” candidates are safe to nominate. Election Committee members are not going to stick their necks out in support of anyone who is clearly not welcome. Politics is a matter of practicality, especially if one desires a long political life.
Beijing has been pretty clear with its hints on what kind of patriots it wants. During the annual “two sessions” in March, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, reportedly said that Legco ought to be made up of “capable” people. The question is how Beijing defines “capable”.
One member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference supposedly shed some light on the matter, saying Legco could do without those who merely parrot leaders, seek attention and lack any constructive contributions of their own. Since March, it appears that lawmakers have tried to showcase their capability and contributions without calling too much attention to themselves – a tough balancing act, for sure.
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Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen’s announcement that he will be stepping down, followed by veteran lawmaker Ma Fung-kwok declaring his intention to retire, rippled through political circles and prompted a conversation about whether those over 70 should continue to serve, based on what some have described as an “unwritten rule” among National People’s Congress representatives.
