Hong Kong Holds Legislative Election Amid Mourning for Fire Victims

Sat Dec 20 2025 13:41:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In wake of a devastating fire in Tai Po that claimed nearly 160 lives, Hong Kong residents cast their votes in a Legislative Council election viewed as a measure of public sentiment. Despite government efforts to boost turnout, voter engagement remains low.

Hong Kong held its Legislative Council election amid national mourning for victims of a tragic fire in Tai Po that resulted in nearly 160 fatalities. The government encouraged voter participation with measures including window shopping incentives, yet turnout remained low at 31.9%. The election came on the heels of public outcry regarding building safety regulations following the fire, which has since ignited questions about the integrity of the city's leadership and legislative processes.

Hongkongers have voted in an election seen as a test of public sentiment following a deadly fire that angered many in the city. The government mounted a huge campaign to encourage residents to choose members of the Legislative Council (LegCo), with all candidates vetted to ensure loyalty to China.

Voter turnout was reported at 31.9%, mirroring the low participation seen in the 2021 elections. This election occurred as the city mourns nearly 160 victims of a fire in Tai Po district, which has raised critical concerns about public safety and building regulations.

Approximately 1.3 million out of around 4.1 million registered voters participated in the election. China made sweeping changes to Hong Kong's electoral system to ensure only patriots can run for seats, significantly altering the political landscape since the anti-government protests of 2019.

Amid the grief, authorities distributed aid to fire survivors and sought to improve building safety, with 13 arrests made on suspicion of manslaughter related to the incident. Investigations found that flammable materials contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

In an effort to increase voter turnout, the government implemented numerous incentives, including shopping discounts and public activities, while also facing criticism over their handling of the fire's aftermath and its political implications.

Political campaigning for the LegCo election was temporarily halted following the fire, although government-organised forums resumed shortly after. Chief Executive John Lee stated the elections would proceed as planned, emphasizing the importance of moving forward.

This year's elections included many new candidates, as a quarter of the current lawmakers chose not to run again, influenced by pressures from Beijing regarding age limits for politicians.