Hong Kong leader John Lee has dodged questions about an age limit for running in the “patriots-only” legislative elections, after several septuagenarian lawmakers announced they would not seek another term.
Responding to reporters’ questions at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Lee said it was normal for organisations to see personnel changes.
The lawmakers “have told their own reasons, such as family reasons, wish to focus more on matters they care about or academic pursuits, or the desire to pass on the torch to the newcomers,” the chief executive said. “These are their personal choices.”
In recent days, local media outlets have cited unnamed sources in political circles saying that a line will be drawn for the next legislative term to exclude those above the age of 70.
The current Legislative Council (LegCo) term ends on October 24. Elections will be held on December 7 – the second to take place since Beijing passed a resolution in 2021 to overhaul Hong Kong’s electoral system by ensuring only “patriots” hold power in the legislature.
The overhaul also slashed the number of publicly elected seats from 35 to 20, while the legislature was expanded to include 20 more lawmakers chosen by members of the Election Committee in a small-circle vote.
At least 13 lawmakers have announced that they will not seek another LegCo term – 11 since Friday. LegCo President Andrew Leung and five-term Ma Fung-kwok said two weeks ago they would be retiring from the council.
Seven of the 13 lawmakers are aged 70 or above, including Leung and Ma.
‘Patriots’ encouraged to run
The latest to announce they will not seek another LegCo term are Lo Wai-kwok, 71; Chow Man-kong, 44; and Martin Liao, 68. Lo and Liao represent the engineering sector and the commerce constituency, respectively, while Chow is an Election Committee lawmaker.
Lo, who has served in LegCo since 2012, said in a Facebook post on Monday night that he wished to give the younger generation a chance to join LegCo.
Chow, who was one of the newcomers to the council in 2021, announced on Facebook on Monday night that he was leaving to focus on policy research.
According to local media on Tuesday, Liao said it was time to “pass on the torch” after serving three terms as a lawmaker. He said he would focus on “other work” and continue serving “the country and Hong Kong” in other capacities.
Lee told journalists on Tuesday that he was aware that some members had expressed their decision not to run in the December election. He said they came from “different age groups” and that he respected their decisions.
He hailed the current LegCo term, saying lawmakers had passed bills such as one that put in place the city’s local security law, as well as another aimed at improving the conditions of subdivided flats in the city.
“I encourage patriots who have a passion for our country and our city… to actively seek nominations and register to run,” Lee added.
Veteran septuagenarian lawmakers who have said they will not run again include catering sector lawmaker Tommy Cheung, the insurance sector’s Chan Kin-por, business sector lawmaker Jeffrey Lam, and aviation sector representative Frankie Yick.
Several younger lawmakers have also said they will opt out of the race, including Gary Zhang, 36, and Connie Lam, 37.
Zhang, who represents New Prospect for Hong Kong, a political party advocating for younger mainland Chinese in the city, cited “family reasons,” while Lam said she wished to return to her profession as a social worker and pursue a postdoctoral degree.
Tik Chi-yuen, the council’s only self-proclaimed non-pro-establishment lawmaker, also said he would not run again.
The 68-year-old said his party, Third Side, could only field one candidate to contend in the election, and he wished to offer younger party members a chance instead.
