Low turnout marks Hong Kong’s legislative election amid fire tragedy and political overhaul

Hong Kong’s legislative election on 8 December, 2025, recorded the second-lowest voter turnout in the city’s history, with just 31.9% of registered voters casting ballots. This comes amid tightened Beijing-imposed electoral controls and a sombre public mood following a deadly fire that claimed at least 159 lives.

According to the Registration and Electoral Office, approximately 1.3 million out of 4.1 million registered voters participated in Sunday’s election. While the raw number of voters declined slightly compared to 2021, the turnout percentage rose due to a smaller total electorate.

This is only the second legislative election held since Beijing’s 2021 revamp of Hong Kong’s political system. The reforms, implemented after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, significantly reduced the proportion of directly elected seats and introduced screening to ensure only “patriots” could stand for office.

Under the new system, just 20 of the 90 seats in the Legislative Council (LegCo) are now filled by direct election. In Sunday’s race, all 161 candidates had been vetted for political loyalty by government-appointed committees.

The election did not include participation from Hong Kong’s two largest pro-democracy parties. The Civic Party disbanded in 2023, and the Democratic Party has entered a state of political dormancy. As a result, the field lacked the once-prominent opposition voices that previously shaped fierce debates in the legislature.

Around a third of sitting lawmakers, including influential figures such as Regina Ip and LegCo president Andrew Leung, chose not to seek re-election.

The announcement of winners had not been made as of early Monday.

Tragedy overshadows campaign

Campaigning in the lead-up to the vote was overshadowed by a deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court, a cluster of apartment blocks in northern Hong Kong, which broke out in late November. It was the city’s deadliest fire in decades, killing at least 159 residents and displacing many more.

In response, a park near the site became a memorial space, covered in flowers and handwritten tributes. However, authorities removed these displays on election night, with government-arranged cleaners and police citing the need to “return the park to normal.”

A police officer at the scene suggested the gathering bore similarities to the 2019 protests, indicating heightened political sensitivities around public mourning.

Residents voiced anger and frustration over the incident and the government’s handling. A woman surnamed Poon, who lost her home, told reporters that there must be a full investigation and accountability. “Whoever is at fault must be held responsible,” she said.

Another witness, Kitty Lau, urged the government to be more inclusive in its response. “Some of the voices from opposition factions, as long as they love the country and love Hong Kong, should be given an opportunity to speak,” she said.

Government response and security warnings

Chief Executive John Lee urged citizens to vote, framing the election as part of the city’s reform process and a way to support those affected by the disaster. He also announced the establishment of an independent, judge-led inquiry into the fire, alongside proposals for relief and rebuilding measures.

The new Legislative Council is expected to consider a bill addressing fire-related recovery at its first meeting.

At least 15 people from construction firms linked to the renovation of the affected blocks have been arrested as part of the police investigation.

Authorities have adopted a firm stance on speech around the tragedy. At least three people have been arrested for sedition, while a 71-year-old man became the first in Hong Kong to be detained for “prejudicing a national security investigation” under the city’s evolving security framework.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) reported the arrest of 11 individuals for allegedly encouraging others not to vote or to cast invalid ballots.

On Saturday, China's national security office in Hong Kong summoned international media organisations, including Agence France-Presse (AFP), warning them not to “cross the legal red line” in their election and fire coverage