Directly elected seats drop to 20 under Beijing's electoral reforms

The National People’s Congress Standing Committee has approved Hong Kong’s electoral system overhaul in Beijing today.

The number of directly elected seats in the Legislative Council has been cut to 20 from 35.

Electoral reforms were approved unanimously by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee in a vote of 167-0. 

Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong's sole representative to the Standing Committee of the NPC, said the amendment of Annex I and Annex II of the Basic Law was approved. Under the reforms, the Election Committee will be allowed to select 40 members to an expanded Legislative Council.

Geographical constituency seats will drop to 20 from 35, while functional constituencies will be limited to 30 seats.

Tam said District Council members will no longer be included in the Election Committee.

Reuters cited Maria Tam as saying that the Election Committee, will pick 40 representatives of the  legislature as part of the reforms approved by the Standing Committee.

The number of directly elected representatives will fall to 20 from 35, Tam added. The size of the legislature will increase to 90 from 70 currently.