Veteran lawmaker Regina Ip to step down from Legco as regret-free tenure winds down
發佈日期: 2025-10-25 19:59
TVB News
Today is the second day of the nomination period for the upcoming Legislative Council election.
Veteran lawmaker and the chairwoman of the New People's Party Regina Ip announced she will not seek another term in the Legislative Council.
This as the Party unveiled its list of eight candidates, with Judy Chan Ka-pui succeeding Ip in contesting the Hong Kong Island West seat.
Two more incumbent legislators -- Eunice Yung and Lai Tung-kwok also said they will not run for the upcoming Legco poll.
75-year-old Regina Ip led the New People's Party revealing its list of candidates for the Legco election, but Ip was not on the list.
Incumbent lawmaker Judy Chan will succeed Ip to compete in Hong Kong Island West, while Dominic Lee and Adrian Ho will contest for re-election in the New Territories North East and Election Committee constituencies respectively.
Five district councillors -- Calvin Kwok, Kam Man-fung, Marcella Cheung, Victor Chan and Michael Liu will participate in their respective geographical constituencies.
Three incumbent lawmakers, including Regina Ip, Lai Tung-kwok aged 73, as well as Eunice Yung aged 48, will not run in the upcoming election.
Ip, who has served in the city's lawmaking body for 17 years, says it is time to pass the baton to the next generation.
Ip said, "I think I am the only politician who has online support groups. I am very active on social media. So I am not retiring, don't get me wrong. I will continue to work hard for Hong Kong for the future about country, for Hong Kong residents in the coming years."
Concerns mount over lawmakers reportedly having to retire over the age of 70.
Urging the public not to speculate, Regina Ip said she will continue to serve society with her expertise and policy research.
When Eunice Yung was asked if the decision to step down was related to her father-in-law, Elmer Yuan, who is an activist wanted by the police for allegedly violating the national security law, Yung stressed she made the decision on her own.
Yung said, "Whether to elect or not to elect is my sole decision. It is not affected by any other parties or any other person. All rumors were just speculations."
Meanwhile, the Electoral Affairs Commission received eight nomination forms on Saturday.
Seeking re-elections are Kwok Wai-keung from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, or FTU. He is switching tracks to fight in a direct election.
For the functional constituencies, FTU member Lam Wai-kong, who currently serves in Wan Chai, hopes to represent the labour constituency.
Six more candiates will take part the Election Committee election, including FTU's Kingsley Wong and Joyce Wong.
Together with lawyer Junius Ho and those who handed in their nomination forms on Friday, 10 nominations for the Election Committee were received so far.
The eighth-term Legislative Council election will take place on December 7 with the nomination period closing on November 6.
