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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
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Former CE Tung Chee-hwa skips voting
Hong Kong former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa could not attend the polling as he “was resting at home,” his spokesman said.
Tung, 84, had surgery in September for an undisclosed condition.
He is the vice-chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and one of the 1,448 Election Committee members who are empowered to select 40 out of 90 lawmakers in the election on Sunday.
In comparison, general voters in geographical constituencies can only elect one lawmaker, returning a total 20 to Legislative Council.
Another CPPCC vice-chairman and former chief executive Leung Chun-ying said the 153 candidates vying for the 90 seats broadly represent citizens.
He said the new Legislative Council that will take office from January 1 will better serve the SAR and help it grasp opportunities amid the nation's rapid development.
“Not only does this election serve the purpose of choosing candidates but it is also an occasion to 'say no' to the previous Legco election system and certain elected lawmakers who wasted time and dragged Hong Kong's development,” Leung said.
He said too that Hong Kong's “democratic election system” should not be compared with other places like Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Hong Kong's only representative at National People's Congress standing committee, Tam Yiu-chung, said Sunday's election carries “special meaning” as the first legislative polling under the new electoral system.
“I hope this election will bring a new atmosphere and the new Legco will step up with communication and cooperation with authorities, while the government changes its old ways of working and attitude to listen to the opinions of lawmakers,” he said.
Asked if he was concerned about a low turnout, Tam said: “This election can hardly be compared with special circumstances in the 2019 District Council election.
“I think neither candidates nor voters should be worried. The social situation now is different from that in 2019,” he said, but added he will respect voters' decisions regardless of the voting rate.
He is the vice-chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and one of the 1,448 Election Committee members who are empowered to select 40 out of 90 lawmakers in the election on Sunday.
In comparison, general voters in geographical constituencies can only elect one lawmaker, returning a total 20 to Legislative Council.
Another CPPCC vice-chairman and former chief executive Leung Chun-ying said the 153 candidates vying for the 90 seats broadly represent citizens.
He said the new Legislative Council that will take office from January 1 will better serve the SAR and help it grasp opportunities amid the nation's rapid development.
“Not only does this election serve the purpose of choosing candidates but it is also an occasion to 'say no' to the previous Legco election system and certain elected lawmakers who wasted time and dragged Hong Kong's development,” Leung said.
He said too that Hong Kong's “democratic election system” should not be compared with other places like Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Hong Kong's only representative at National People's Congress standing committee, Tam Yiu-chung, said Sunday's election carries “special meaning” as the first legislative polling under the new electoral system.
“I hope this election will bring a new atmosphere and the new Legco will step up with communication and cooperation with authorities, while the government changes its old ways of working and attitude to listen to the opinions of lawmakers,” he said.
Asked if he was concerned about a low turnout, Tam said: “This election can hardly be compared with special circumstances in the 2019 District Council election.
“I think neither candidates nor voters should be worried. The social situation now is different from that in 2019,” he said, but added he will respect voters' decisions regardless of the voting rate.
