Hong Kong’s political landscape is witnessing unprecedented cross-sector collaboration ahead of the Legislative Council (LegCo) election on December 7, 2025. This pivotal race, operating under the revised “patriots administering Hong Kong” framework, emphasizes consensus-building and broad representation, prompting major business figures and established party leaders to back candidates outside their traditional spheres.
In a highly visible public appeal, Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming urged residents to exercise their civic duty by voting. Chow, alongside his three deputy commissioners, appeared in a lighthearted social media video filmed in a hair salon, using the metaphor of hair dye and personal appearance to stress that outward preferences are secondary to the act of voting. He emphasized that understanding the process of casting a ballot is essential for every resident.
New Alliances Redefine Election Dynamics
A review of the 161 nomination filings confirms a strategic tightening within the pro-establishment structure. This cross-pollination signals a unified focus on broader city initiatives, such as the ambitious Northern Metropolis project, driving collaboration across various economic and political sectors.
Crucially, the nominations reveal reciprocal support between developers and organized labor—a significant shift in Hong Kong’s political economy:
- Property Magnates Support Labor: Sonia Cheng Chi-man, Executive Director of New World Development, nominated senior figures from the Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), including Tsang Chi-man and So Pak-tsan. She also endorsed Michael Liu Tsz-chung of the New People’s Party.
- Labor Backs Business: In a reciprocal move, FTU President Stanley Ng Chau-pei and Vice-Chairman Lee Kwong-yu endorsed Augustine Wong Ho-ming, an Executive Director at Henderson Land, who is campaigning in the real estate and construction functional constituency.
FTU Chairman Kingsley Wong Kwok noted that nominations from the 1,500-member Election Committee are mandatory for candidates to qualify for the ballot. He added that backing from influential enterprises bolsters prospects, even where minor policy disagreements persist.
Support from the business community extended beyond mainstream political parties. Poman Lo, Vice-Chairwoman of Regal Hotels, nominated Allan Wong Wing-ho, and Wharf Holdings Executive Director Leng Yen-thean nominated Jeffrey Chan Chun-hung; both candidates are associated with the PoD Research Institute (formerly Path of Democracy).
Notably, while key figures from Sun Hung Kai Properties offered endorsements, members of the Li Ka-shing family—Victor Li Tzar-kuoi of CK Asset and Richard Li Tzar-kai of Pacific Century Group—did not publicly endorse any candidates.
Mainland Influence and Party Divergence
Mainland Chinese enterprises also played a concentrated role in nominations. In the commercial (third) sector of the Election Committee, 14 of 51 endorsements went to 11 candidates from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB). Other parties, including the FTU, New People’s Party, and the Liberal Party, received significantly fewer endorsements from this sector, which largely favoured independents linked to mainland businesses.
Intra-party nomination divergence was also evident. New People’s Party leader Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and colleague Judy Chan Kapui offered nominations to Peter Koon Ho-ming and Chu Lap-lai in the Election Committee constituency, opting not to support their own party colleague, Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong. However, Ip clarified that a nomination does not necessarily equate to a decisive vote.
Focus on Unity and Consensus
Political analysts suggest that the new electoral system encourages greater coordination and a focus on the city’s overall interests within the context of national development. Lau Siu-kai of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies advised stakeholders to manage their differences amiably and seek mutual gains. Emeritus Professor John Burns of the University of Hong Kong suggested that nominating perceived opponents might even be a calculated effort to intensify competition and boost overall voter turnout.
Despite the emphasis on unified support, minor administrative issues arose. At least 10 Election Committee members mistakenly filed duplicate nominations across the various sectors, a breach of the revised rules allowing only one nomination per track (geographical, functional, and Election Committee). Affected candidates, however, comfortably surpassed the necessary thresholds, meaning their overall eligibility remains secure.