Starry Lee Elected LegCo President in Tight Race, Highlighting Revamped Electoral System

Starry Lee, a delegate to the National People's Congress Standing Committee representing Hong Kong's Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress, secured the presidency of the Legislative Council in a ballot held on Wednesday, prevailing over Ronick Chan from the financial services constituency by a margin of five votes.

In a statement attributed to the pseudonym "GangAoPing," the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council highlighted the election's openness, transparency, and competitive nature as a testament to the advancement of high-caliber democracy in Hong Kong under the principle of patriots governing the city, while underscoring the merits of the revamped electoral framework.

The commentary emphasized that both contenders prioritized harnessing the benefits of the "one country, two systems" model, synchronizing with the nation's 14th Five-Year Plan, and embedding Hong Kong within the broader national growth strategy, reflecting a comprehensive strategic outlook.

It pointed out that the tight contest exemplified a dynamic democratic process, with each candidate boasting substantial tenure in the Legislative Council and widespread acclaim. The proceedings adhered strictly to statutory requirements for nominations and deliberations, featuring confidential balloting and rigorous oversight of vote tabulation.

The piece attributed the election's triumph to the thorough execution of the patriots administering Hong Kong doctrine and the enhanced electoral system introduced in 2021. This mechanism ensures equilibrium among societal, industry-specific, and geographic concerns, more accurately captures public sentiment, encourages measured and constructive discourse, entrusts administration to committed patriots, and protects citizens' democratic entitlements and welfare. Furthermore, it guarantees the consistent application of "one country, two systems," bolsters collaboration between the executive and legislative branches, elevates administrative efficacy, and mobilizes stakeholders for unified progress.

The commentary voiced expectations that the incoming president will steer the Legislative Council toward reinforcing the executive-led governance structure, backing the chief executive and administration, fostering ties with societal groups and business sectors to facilitate robust policy scrutiny and lawmaking, and enforcing the members' code of ethics to embody a refreshed ethos.