Veteran lawmaker Martin Liao not seeking re-election in next LegCo term

Veteran lawmaker Martin Liao Cheung-kong announced on Tuesday that he will not seek re-election in the upcoming Legislative Council (LegCo) election, saying it is the right time to hand over the baton after serving three consecutive terms.

The 68-year-old lawmaker representing the Commercial (Second) functional constituency said he reached the decision after careful consideration.

“What I wanted to do, and what I needed to do, have all been done,” he said.

Liao noted that Hong Kong has completed its institutional development and entered a new phase of governance and prosperity.

“The once rugged path has now been levelled,” he said, describing it as a suitable moment for generational transition.

He added that he will focus on other professional commitments in the future, while continuing to serve both the country and Hong Kong in different capacities.

Liao expressed gratitude to the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and various sectors for their long-standing support throughout his legislative service. He said it had been an honour to take part in LegCo’s work and called on voters to actively participate in the upcoming election.

Liao joins a growing list of lawmakers opting not to run in the next term — with 13 legislators so far having announced their decision to step down.