A growing number of lawmakers -- at least nine -- have declared not to run in the Legislative Council Election in December ahead of the opening of the nomination window.
With the nomination period set to open on October 24, lawmaker Gary Zhang Xinyu announced on Sunday(Oct 12) that he will not seek re-election, citing family reasons.
Reflecting on his four years in office, the 36 year-old expressed gratitude for the trust by the government and the public , considering it a great honor to serve the city.
Although not born in Hong Kong, Zhang has developed a deep affection for the city, having studied, built a family, and established his career there, which he described as his “true home”.
Zhang also expressed hopes for a smooth election and more young professionals would step forward to take on public duties.
On the same day, fellow A4 Alliance lawmaker, Connie Lam So-wai, announced her decision to return to social work and pursue doctoral studies, citing the significant time commitment of lawmaker duties.
The 37-year-old former social worker believed her four years of experience in the council will greatly enhance her ability to serve the public in the future, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve as a lawmaker.
"As an ordinary citizen of Hong Kong, I am thankful for the support I've received from teachers, mentors, colleagues, and friends in areas like social welfare, healthcare, and youth development," she said, wishing for a smooth election on December 7.
Meanwhile, business sector lawmaker and executive councilor Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, 73, also announced that he will step down from the upcoming election after discussions with party members and family.
Lam emphasized his commitment to attracting overseas and mainland enterprises and expressed a desire to create more opportunities for young talent to serve both the city and the nation.
"My commitment to serving Hong Kong remains unchanged, and I will continue to speak up for the commercial and industrial sectors through different platforms" Lam stated.
Additionally, Doreen Kong Yuk-foon, a lawyer and Election Committee lawmaker, shared her reflections on her four years of service on social media, fueling speculation about her potential decision not to run in the election.
In the post, the 55 year-old lawmaker acknowledged that "all good things must come to an end" and expressed that her political journey has taught her to "give her all and have no regrets."
Kong extended heartfelt gratitude to her team, averaging just 30 years in age, for their growth from novices in legislative affairs to seasoned professionals, voicing belief in the potential and contributions of young people.
As her term comes to a close, she previously hinted at serving the public "in a different way" in an August post
Their announcements came on the heels of declarations from three lawmakers--Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, Chan Kin-por, and Tik Chi-yuen-- announced on Saturday (October 12) that they will not seek another term.
Cheung, the 76-year-old Liberal Party lawmaker representing the catering sector, has chosen to retire after 25 years in the legislature.
In a social media video, he explained that his decision to step aside from the LegCo election was made after considering the needs of the catering industry and the One Country, Two Systems framework.
Similarly, Chan, a 71-year-old independent representing the insurance sector, is concluding his 17-year tenure in the LegCo.
He expressed pride in his contributions to the city's economic development and government initiatives, stating it was time to "pass the baton" to capable candidates.
Joining them is 68-year-old Tik Chi-yuen, leader of the Third Side party, who announced his decision not to run in the upcoming election after consultations with core party members.
Additionally, the 62-year-old Kennedy Wong Ying-ho from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong also announced that he would not compete for re-election, focusing instead on his roles as a National People's Congress deputy as well as the council and court chairman of the Hong Kong Baptist University, while supporting younger candidates.
Wong stressed the importance of fostering new leadership, stating, "With the historical mission accomplished, it is time to cultivate a successor."
Last month, LegCo President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, 74, announced he would not seek a new term after 21 years in the council and nine years as its president.
"It is time to step down," he said, explaining that his decision followed discussions with his family and careful consideration of his age.
Similarly, Ma Fung-kwok, 70, confirmed he would not run in the election, expressing hope to see more young candidates participating in the city's cultural promotion efforts.
Following the departures of several seasoned politicians, one-third of the 12 members aged 70 or above have now announced their exits, fueling rumors of a 70-year age limit for the council.
However, other lawmakers in this age group—including Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Lo Wai-kwok, Louis Loong Hon-biu, Frankie Yick Chi-ming, Lai Tung-kwok, and Tony Tse Wai-chuen—have yet to confirm their decisions regarding the upcoming election.
Additionally, rumors suggest that Martin Liao Cheung-kong, 68, may also choose not to run.
Political observers predicted a high turnover rate, with up to one-third of the council likely to see new faces in the upcoming term.
