LegCo

LegCo stands for the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong, with the chief roles of enacting and amending laws, approving budgets, and scrutinizing the government’s policies and administration. Legislation and oversight are conducted under the Basic Law, which governs Hong Kong’s constitutional framework.

Composition and election: Since the 2021 electoral reforms, LegCo has 90 seats. Forty members are elected by geographical constituencies through direct elections, thirty are elected from functional constituencies representing various professional and sectoral groups, and twenty are elected by the Election Committee, a 1,500-member body that also selects the Chief Executive. Members serve four-year terms and operate within procedures defined by the Rules of Procedure.

Functions and procedures: LegCo debates and passes ordinances and legal instruments, and it has the power to veto or amend government-proposed bills. It approves public budgets and monitors government administration through questions, inquiries, and committee work. Key committees include the Bills Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Public Accounts Committee, which scrutinize financial and policy matters.

Location and leadership: The council meets at the Legislative Council Complex in the Tamar area of Admiralty. Proceedings are presided over by the President of LegCo, with support from the Clerk and other officers who administer debate, voting, and committee activities.

History: The Legislative Council has its origins in the colonial era and continued after the 1997 handover under the Basic Law. The 2021 electoral changes significantly restructured LegCo’s composition and electoral pathways, increasing the role of the Election Committee and realigning representation within the council.