2023 Hong Kong electoral changes

Changes to the composition of the District Councils:
2019 election (479 seats)
  •   Directly elected (452)
  •   Ex-officio (Chairmen of Rural Committee) (27)
2023 election (470 seats)
  •   Directly elected (88)
  •   Ex-officio (Chairmen of Rural Committee) (27)
  •   Indirectly elected (Electoral College of "Three Committees") (176)
  •   Appointed (179)

The 2023 Hong Kong electoral changes were proposed by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on 2 May 2023 in the 18 District Councils of Hong Kong for the following December elections and approved by Legislative Council on 6 July 2023. The changes are officially effective from 10 July 2023. Previously returned by direct elections, the number of the elected seats will be significantly reduced to around 20 per cent, while each of the 40 per cent of the seats will be returned by indirect elections and appointed by the Chief Executive.[1]

Chief Executive John Lee said a vetting mechanism will also be introduced to prevent the "anti-China troublemakers" and those promoting "separatism" and violence from "manipulating and paralysing" the councils, and to safeguard national security and implement the principle of "patriots running Hong Kong", following the landslide victory of the pro-democracy camp in the 2019 elections amid the massive anti-government protests.[1]

  1. ^ a b "Hong Kong's district councils to be chaired by government officials, hopefuls seeking fewer directly elected seats to undergo vetting". South China Morning Post. 2 May 2023.