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Legislative Council of Hong Kong

Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council of Hong Kong is made up of 70 members who debate and pass bills. Half of the Legco members are directly elected by voters in geographical constituencies and the remaining 35 members are returned by 29 functional constituencies.  The next elections will be held in September 2020.
The proposed measures aim to combat malpractice in light of the Tai Po fire. Photo: Sun Yeung
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tough penalties planned to stop unapproved fire system shutdowns in Hong Kong

South China Morning Post learns Security Bureau plans to propose legal amendments to improve oversight following deadly Tai Po fire last November.

Hong Kong society

‘All risks must be controlled,’ John Lee says on basketball betting U-turn

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Hong Kong society

Opinion | Why Hong Kong is hitting pause on basketball betting

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | How markets will test Hong Kong’s new economic model

Industrial policy can guide and catalyse but it cannot substitute for a genuine competitive advantage.

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Pedestrians cross a road in Tsim Sha Tsui on August 26 2025. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong society

Call to check tech trends when drafting policies after basketball betting U-turn

Development of technology is faster than the pace of legislation, ex-lawmaker notes.

Hong Kong politics

Advisory body to be given power to probe department heads for serious offences

Hong Kong authorities will introduce subsidiary legislation as early as June, as part of broader effort to institutionalise official accountability.

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong’s basketball betting U-turn ‘aligns with Beijing gambling clampdown’

Home affairs chief Alice Mak says amendment to legalise basketball betting does not mean government must issue licence regardless of changing conditions.

The Jockey Club’s betting centre on Hankow Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong society

Time to act on stalled proposal toughening child abuse penalties, lawmakers say

SCMP check finds that only one of 13 cases of serious child abuse offences over more than two decades resulted in close to maximum 10-year sentence.

Hong Kong politics

Tighter civil service disciplinary rules risk becoming excessive: union head

Federation of Civil Service Unions chairman raises concerns over civil servant retention amid efforts to deal with underperforming staff.

Hong Kong society

Health chief hails tobacco control efforts as smoking rate falls to 8.5%

Prevalence of daily cigarette smokers aged 15 and older fell from 9.1 per cent in 2023.

The smoking rate in Hong Kong has reached a historic low following a continuous decline in recent years. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong seeks to raise bond issuance ceiling to HK$900 billion

Government proposes to raise borrowing ceiling from HK$700 billion to HK$900 billion to fund infrastructure development.

Development of the Northern Metropolis near the border with mainland China is a key scheme. Photo: Dickson Lee
Legislative Council election 2025

Hong Kong spent HK$1.13 billion on Legco poll, up by 35% over figure for 2021

Authorities point to rising technology expenses, staff salaries and venue rentals for increased expenditure.

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Authorities rule out smoking areas at construction sites under proposed ban

Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui tells lawmakers that proposed smoking ban will apply to all areas of construction sites.

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Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong MTR track intrusion prompts calls for tougher penalties, education

Passenger opened train emergency exit on Friday causing a two-hour service disruption during evening rush hour.

Stranded passengers at Tai Wai station following a suspension of MTR services on Friday. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong transport

Lawmakers concerned over lack of parking at Huanggang border checkpoint

Hong Kong authorities plan to find a nearby site for parking and provide shuttle buses to the checkpoint building.

Work continues at the revamped Huanggang border crossing building. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong weighs petrol pricing disclosure rule in tenders as fuel costs surge

Environment minister Tse Chin-wan tells Legislative Council government open to reviewing tender policy for petrol station sites to bring down soaring fuel prices.

Hong Kong national security law

‘Specified persons’ will be able to decrypt devices in national security cases

Security chief says amendments to implementation rules have not created new law enforcement powers.

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Hong Kong economy

Northern Metropolis boundary changes will need Legco approval, minister says

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn also says she cannot see a need to adjust the boundaries at this stage.

Under the Northern Metropolis scheme, 30,000 hectares of land will be turned into an engine for economic growth and a housing hub. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong politics

Editorial | Legco could refer to mainland experience in boosting efficiency

The difference between the administrative and legislative systems of the mainland and Hong Kong does not preclude learning from the other side.

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Special laws can help the Northern Metropolis pick up pace

It is vital that the megaproject proceeds as quickly as possible while adhering to standards and monitoring.

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Here’s what an executive-led government really means in Hong Kong

The legislature and judiciary have a constitutional duty to rally behind the executive while exercising their powers independently.

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Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attends the first session of the eighth Legislative Council in Admiralty on January 14, as Legco president Starry Lee Wai-king looks on. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong actor Gregory Wong loses appeal against 2019 Legco storming conviction

Court of Appeal also dismissed complaints by six others convicted over storming of Legislative Council Complex during protests.

Actor Gregory Wong enters West Kowloon Court on February 1, 2024. Photo: AFP
Crime in Hong Kong

Scammers impersonate Hong Kong lawmaker to defraud woman of HK$38,000

Legislator Gary Chan condemns ‘despicable’ scam and urges vigilance after fraudsters impersonating him trick woman into transferring money.

Hong Kong economy

Measures to streamline Northern Metropolis land-use procedures unveiled

Proposed Development Bureau legislation aims to cut process from nine months to just two and remove bottlenecks.

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | White paper documents the strength of Hong Kong’s security shield

Beijing’s latest white paper on Hong Kong clears up misconceptions by chronicling the progress made on protecting national security.

A general view of the Office for Safeguarding National Security at Tin Hau, taken on May 13, 2025. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong in new push to get young people to register as voters

Youngsters will be exempted from producing proof of address to register as electors as part of campaign.

Residents leave a polling station after voting in December’s Legco election. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Mainland-style oversight system could help Legco to deliver

Hong Kong’s executive-led governance system may just need a different type of oversight where the legislature can perform well.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong seeks to replace, not punish, underperforming Medical Council members

Health chief Lo Chung-mau also rules out rigid deadlines for each stage of complaint handling by council.

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