Hong Kong electoral authorities have planned to include the Hetao cooperation zone, a new innovation hub near the border, in an existing constituency in the New Territories for the coming legislative election, despite no one living there.
The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) revealed on Friday its proposal to integrate the Hetao area, which is located on both sides of the Shenzhen River and co-developed with mainland Chinese authorities, into Hong Kongโs electoral map.
The announcement is about seven months ahead of Hong Kongโs eighth-term Legislative Council, which is scheduled for December 7.
Although the current population projection for the Hetao cooperation zone as of mid-2025 is zero, the commission proposed to include the area to tie in with its development, the consultation paper read.
โ[We] are seeing substantial development in the loop and the first three buildings of the loop district will become functional soon โฆ the EAC will see that it will be an appropriate moment to include the loop in the present exercise,โ Justice David Lok Kai-hong, chairman of the electoral body, said.
โWe see that the timing is right.โ