LegCo election turnout rises slightly to 31.9pc after govt's post-Tai Po fire promise

Voter turnout in Sunday’s Legislative Council geographical constituencies reached 31.9 percent, up 1.7 percent from the previous election, with analyst Lau Siu-kai attributing the modest increase partly to the government’s pledges on post-fire recovery and reforms at Wang Fuk Court.

The New Territories North East constituency, which includes the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court, recorded the lowest turnout at 30.15 percent.

Lau suggested the disaster may have dampened enthusiasm there, though other factors still drew around 30 percent of voters to the polls.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong secured 20 seats, one more than last time, but saw its overall vote share drop by 36 percent.

Lau noted the party faces emerging competition, putting it under pressure.

The FTU held steady at seven seats yet lost two incumbents, which he viewed as unsurprising given fiercer contests in their districts.

Long-serving candidate Christine Fong Kwok-shan topped the vote count, a result Lau said rewards dedicated community work and name recognition in geographical races.

In functional constituencies, several professional sectors, like education and accountancy, saw turnouts below 40 percent.

Lau explained that middle-class voters in these groups remain more sensitive to political developments and may have stayed away due to dissatisfaction with the current climate.