Executive Council Convenor Regina Ip issued an open appeal on November 18, 2025, calling on Hong Kong residents to exercise their civic duty in the upcoming eighth-term Legislative Council (LegCo) election on December 7. The veteran public servant emphasized the importance of high voter turnout to support the recently improved electoral system, ensuring that capable and committed individuals are elected to serve the city’s seven million residents. Ip framed the current democratic framework as a valuable “endowment” provided by the Central People’s Government, underscoring that active participation is key to effective governance and stability.
The Road to the Polls
The electoral process for the 2025 LegCo term has proceeded systematically, guided by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Electoral Affairs Commission. The nomination period, which launched in late October, recently concluded, setting the stage for the December ballot. Ip acknowledged and welcomed the administration’s extensive voter outreach campaigns, stressing that genuine democratic vitality hinges on citizens enthusiastically engaging in their civic responsibilities and exercising their right to vote.
Drawing from her five decades in public service, Ip offered historical context regarding Hong Kong’s institutional evolution. Before the handover, the Legislative Council—then led by the British-appointed Governor—comprised officials and appointees, offering minimal public engagement. She noted that significant changes only began in the 1980s, coinciding with the irreversible trend toward the city’s return to China. While initial democratization was gradual, introducing indirect elections in 1985 and direct geographical elections only in 1991, Ip reflected that the push for accelerated institutional change by the last colonial administration introduced disruptive factors into the legislature. These actions prioritized ideological conflicts over Hong Kong’s overall interests, creating significant challenges for the post-handover government.
Upholding the Principle of “Patriots Administering Hong Kong”
The current electoral reform, enacted comprehensively in 2021, fully implements the fundamental principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong.” This concept, Ip noted, is not novel, recalling that Deng Xiaoping articulated in the 1980s that those who govern the city must demonstrate both patriotism and a love for Hong Kong. Ip stressed that the forthcoming eighth-term election is a precise and thorough execution of this very principle.
Ip aligned herself with the Central Government’s focus on people-centered democracy, a concept articulated further in 2019 as “whole-process people’s democracy.” This framework emphasizes that democracy must encompass every stage of governance, from policy formation to implementation, not merely the moment of voting, thereby ensuring public needs and livelihood improvements are met.
She also pointed out that previous opportunities for democratic advancement, such as the 31st August framework put forth by the Central authorities in 2014, were regrettably thwarted by opposition lawmakers, leading to prolonged political gridlock.
A Call for Stable and Effective Governance
Ip concluded her appeal by urging voters to cast their ballots responsibly, aligning their choices with the city’s Constitution and the Basic Law to elect truly patriotic, competent, and service-oriented legislators. She reiterated the fundamental constitutional order, cautioning that any form of “democracy” that deviates from the Basic Law cannot provide lasting stability or prosperity for the metropolitan hub.
As highlighted in the State Council’s 2021 white paper on Hong Kong’s democratic development, the democratic rights enjoyed by citizens are a precious asset from the Central Authorities. Ip asserted that active engagement in the improved, secure, and effective electoral system is the best way for residents to safeguard and cherish this constitutional gift, ensuring the city’s stable future under “One Country, Two Systems.” Registered voters are encouraged to plan their visit to the polling stations on December 7.