Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, a prominent political figure and the first president of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (Legco) following the 1997 handover, suggested during a recent radio appearance that the city should evaluate the current number of seats in the legislature. Fan’s primary justification for the proposal is fiscal responsibility, arguing that a reduction in the number of seats would allow for a more efficient allocation of public resources.

In addition to her comments on the structure of the legislature, Fan reflected on past administrative challenges, specifically mentioning a historical proposal to develop land at the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. She noted that discussions regarding this development took place prior to the 1997 handover but were ultimately abandoned due to internal government opposition at the time.

While the suggestion to reduce the number of seats is framed by Fan as a matter of cost-cutting, the proposal touches on the broader structure of Hong Kong’s political governance. There is currently no official government response or legislative motion confirming that such a review is being planned. The discussion remains, for now, a suggestion from a former official regarding the long-term management of the city’s legislative body.