According to official figures, only about a third of eligible voters participated in the Hong Kong parliamentary elections. Many had called for a postponement following the devastating fire. Only candidates loyal to Beijing were permitted to run.

Just over a week and a half after a deadly fire, Hong Kong voted for its new parliament with a very low turnout. According to official data, around 1.317 million eligible voters cast their ballots, representing a turnout of 31.9 percent – the second-lowest turnout in Hong Kong's history. The final result was not yet available shortly after midnight (local time).

Hong Kong's parliament, the Legislative Council, is not truly freely elected anyway. In response to pro-democracy mass protests in the metropolis, the leadership in Beijing changed Hong Kong's electoral law in 2021. This was intended to ensure that only"patriots" could run in elections.

Only pro-China candidates allowed in Hong Kong's new city council election Jörg Endriss, ARD Beijing, Tagesthemen, Das Erste, December 7, 2025

Hong Kongers directly elect 20 of the 90 members of parliament. 40 are chosen by a committee of politicians loyal to Beijing and representatives from business and society; the remaining 30 are appointed by industry representatives.

To be allowed to run in the election, candidates must demonstrate loyalty to China. Hong Kong's once-strong democracy movement no longer plays a role anyway. Activists are in prison, and democratic parties have been dissolved.

Lee rejected postponing the election.

Due to the fire that destroyed seven apartment towers on November 26, killing 159 people, there had been calls to postpone the election. Prime Minister John Lee insisted on holding the election as scheduled.

He had previously announced an"independent commission" headed by judges to investigate the fire. Criticism of the government and authorities in connection with the fire disaster was massively suppressed, including through the arrest of activists demanding answers about the safety deficiencies in the burning high-rise buildings.

This election once again demonstrated Beijing's control: The day before, authorities summoned foreign journalists to warn them against spreading"false information" about the fire and the election. Furthermore, ten men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of calling for an online boycott of the election.