8 HKFP member benefits

1. Exclusive HKFP deer keyring or tote.

Our mascot derives from the Chinese expression “to point at a deer and call it a horse” – which refers to being deceptive for ill gain. HKFP will always call a deer a deer, and now you can own an exclusive HKFP deer keyring – designed from scratch by HKFP. Alternatively, opt for heavy duty HKFP tote bag. (Apologies, no US shipping).

2. Exclusive columns by Tim Hamlett.

HKFP’s Tim Hamlett is penning extra columns exclusively for HKFP members. Sign up to receive sharp analysis on local affairs via email.

3. Previews of HKFP original reporting.

Receive regular previews of our exclusive features, interviews and explainers via email, a day before they arrive on our website.

4. Merch drops and 15% discounts.

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5. ‘Behind the scenes’ newsroom insights.

How do we gather the news? What does a day look like at HKFP? Does HKFP self-censor? How to survive a chief executive press conference? To mark a decade of HKFP, our editor-in-chief will be sharing regular newsroom insights with members.

6. A chance to join monthly newsroom tours/Q&As.

Join us for an after-hours peek of our mini-newsroom in Kennedy Town, then take part in a Q&A with HKFP’s founder – ask us (almost!) anything. Regular events are first-come-first-served, offered to a dozen members at a time.

7. Early access to our Annual & Transparency Report.

94% of our income comes from donors, so HKFP Members are first in line to see our Annual Report and Transparency Report every January. They include an overview of our achievements each year, and full details of our income and spending.

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Polling stations in the 2025 “patriots only” Legislative Council (LegCo) election closed at 11:30pm on Sunday.

Turnout figures, as they stood at 10:30pm, suggest that fewer people voted in this year’s race compared to the 2021 polls but the proportion of registered voters casting a ballot was slightly higher. Candidates had been urged last-minute votes across a city still mourning the worst fire tragedy in decades.

As of 10:30pm on Sunday, a total of 1,298,261 people had cast votes in the geographical constituencies, which command 20 out of 90 seats in the LegCo chamber and. It is the only voting category that is open to the public – other lawmakers are selected by a committee or special interest groups.

In comparison, during the 2021 election, a total of 1,350,680 people had voted according to voter statistics as of 10.30pm when polls closed. In this year’s election, polls opened an hour early, and closed an hour later.

The voter turnout expressed as a percentage of registered voters was 31.43 per cent as of 10.30pm, marginally higher than the 30.20 per cent final turnout four years ago.

Authorities went on a months-long all-out drive to urge voters to cast their ballot. Banners and posters have been plastered across the city to promote this election, which the government set aside HK$1.28 billion to organise.

The government has also been giving “thank you cards” to people after voting.

The cards have been spotted on secondhand marketplace platform Carousell, selling mostly for between HK$30 and HK$50. Some employers have offered incentives for staff who provide proof of having voted.

The K11 malls and Ocean Park are among those that have heeded to the government’s calls to encourage people to vote, offering discounts to patrons who present their cards.

Public facilities such as museums, swimming pools and the Wetland Park were made free-of-charge for the election weekend.

Meanwhile, designated polling stations were set up for civil servants to vote. On government departments’ Facebook pages, posts urged citizens to exercise their vote alongside selfies of civil servants with their “thank you cards.”

Sunday’s elections are the second since Beijing overhauled the city’s electoral system in 2021 to ensure that only those deemed patriotic enough can run.

The move reduced democratic representation in the legislature, tightened control of elections and introduced requirements for candidates to obtain nominations from a small circle of political elites.

The polls are taking place as Hong Kong continues to grieve the victims of the Tai Po fire that killed at last 159 people. During the day, some survivors told HKFP they would not be voting, with one saying he was “not in the mood” – others cast a ballot in the hope that lawmakers would help enact reforms.

Last-minute campaigning

After pausing election activity in the aftermath of the fire last Wednesday, candidates and their volunteers ramped up their campaigning on Sunday, with volunteers stationed outside MTR stations and on footbridges to call for votes.

Some made the Tai Po fire a centre of their campaign, saying they aimed to follow up on the blaze and prevent another tragedy from happening.

Gary Chan, chairperson of the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said on Sunday evening that the party had helped around 1,000 households in Tai Po affected by the fire.

The incumbent lawmaker was running as a candidate in the New Territories Northeast constituency.

“We’ve noticed a lot of slander and false accusations [about us] online,” Chan said in Cantonese, without elaborating. “This has put the DAB’s election outlook in danger.”

Meanwhile, chairperson of the pro-Beijing New People’s Party Regina Ip said in a Facebook statement on Sunday that lawmakers entering the new legislative term had “very important responsibilities.”

“This includes deliberating on relevant legislation, allocating necessary funds, and researching how to provide long-term support to the disaster victims,” she said in Chinese.

Ip is not running, but her party is fielding eight candidates in the race.

4 more arrests

Meanwhile, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) arrested four people on Sunday for allegedly leaving comments on social media encouraging Hongkongers not to vote, or to cast an invalid ballot, according to a statement published around noon.

Later on Sunday, the ICAC put out another statement saying it had obtained an arrest warrant for a man suspected of the same offence. The man – Wong Ho-tin, 24 – left Hong Kong in July, the ICAC said.

In all, ICAC has made arrested 11 people under the Election (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance in relation to the LegCo election. Three people have been charged.

Although casting a blank protest ballot or not voting is legal, encouraging others to do either is unlawful.

Anyone found to have violated the ordinance could face a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of HK$200,000 upon conviction.