The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the city’s biggest political party, experienced a significant fall in voter support during Sunday’s election for directly contested seats. Although the party managed to hold onto all ten of its geographical constituency seats in the Legislative Council, the number of votes it received dropped sharply compared with the previous election four years ago. The decline highlighted a challenging political atmosphere and growing public dissatisfaction linked to recent controversies.
According to official results, the DAB collected 432,473 votes in the latest election. This accounted for about thirty four percent of the total votes cast in geographical constituencies. While the party retained its position as the largest political force in the legislature, the vote count marked a decrease of nearly 250,000 from the 2021 election. That earlier result saw the party win more than half of the total votes, making this year’s outcome a notable setback in terms of public support.
Several analysts said the sharp decline reflected the heavy competition faced by DAB candidates as well as shifting attitudes among voters. The party found itself under intense scrutiny following a deadly fire in Tai Po that sparked widespread public frustration. The incident reignited debate about safety concerns in older residential areas and prompted questions about whether community leaders and district councillors had acted responsibly.
One of the most contentious issues involved district councillor Peggy Wong Pik kiu, a DAB member. She was accused of having advised the owners’ corporation of Wang Fuk Court on decisions related to a renovation project last year. Critics argued that her involvement raised concerns about transparency and governance standards. Although Wong defended her actions, the controversy generated negative attention for the party at a politically sensitive time.
The combination of public anger over the Tai Po tragedy and dissatisfaction with local councillor conduct placed considerable pressure on DAB candidates throughout the campaign. Some political observers noted that the party’s organizational strength and well established support networks helped it retain all of its seats, but the drop in votes suggested that many residents used the election to signal their frustrations.
Even with fewer votes, the DAB remains the largest political group in the Legislative Council. Party leaders acknowledged the results and said they would carefully review the concerns expressed by voters. They added that they plan to strengthen communication with the public, improve community level governance and demonstrate that they are committed to addressing residents’ concerns in a more transparent and responsive manner.
The election results reaffirm the DAB’s dominant position in the legislature, yet they also highlight the complex challenges facing political parties in Hong Kong. As the city continues to navigate social tensions, governance reforms and shifting public expectations, political organizations will likely face increasing pressure to rebuild trust and deliver meaningful improvements in community affairs.
