By Ng Kang-chung

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Two more Hong Kong lawmakers have said they will not seek another term ahead of nominations opening later this month for the Legislative Council election, bringing the total to at least eight.
Veteran lawmaker Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, a vice-chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, said on Sunday that he would not stand for re-election.
Lam, who turns 74 this month, represents the “Commercial (First)” functional constituency in Legco. The seat is reserved for a representative of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
“After careful consideration and consultation with the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, fellow party members and my family, I have decided not to run for election to the new Legco,” the five-term lawmaker wrote on social media.
“This is a crucial period for Hong Kong’s economic recovery. I have decided not to run for re-election, partly because I want to focus on business affairs and work with the business community to attract investment.
“It is also because I hope to provide more opportunities for young talent in the sector to serve the people, to serve Hong Kong, and our country,” he wrote.

Lam, who also sits on the government’s top decision-making body, the Executive Council, added that he would continue to speak for the business community and serve Hong Kong in other capacities.
Earlier on Sunday, Gary Zhang Xinyu of the political group New Prospect for Hong Kong also announced that he would not compete in the December election, citing “family reasons”.
The 36-year-old worked as an MTR station manager before winning a Legco seat in the New Territories North geographical constituency in 2021 and has been widely quoted by the media about transport-related issues.
In a brief post on social media on Sunday, Zhang said he felt “honoured to have the trust of the country and the support of the people” and it was his “greatest honour to be able to serve Hong Kong as a member of the Legislative Council”.
While he was born on the mainland, he said he saw Hong Kong as his “true home” after studying, raising a family and building a career in the city.
He also thanked his political party for its support. “We love and cherish Hong Kong, and we will continue to work hard to make this home even better,” he wrote.
On Saturday, fellow lawmaker Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, who represents the import and export sector, said he would also not seek another term, partly due to his “busy schedule”.

The 62-year-old said he would instead focus on his roles as a deputy of the National People’s Congress, which is China’s top legislature, and as chairman of Baptist University’s governing body.
Wong, a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, became a lawmaker in 2022 and represents the Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ and Exporters’ Association.
He stressed the importance of fostering new leaders, adding that his “mission” of representing the association had been accomplished.
Eight of the current 89-strong legislature, including the sole member of its non-establishment camp, have so far announced they will not run in the coming election.
Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, 74, of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, is also among those stepping down.
The remainder are Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, 76, of the pro-business Liberal Party; non-affiliated Chan Kin-por, 71; Ma Fung-kwok, 70, of the New Century Forum; and Tik Chi-yuen, 68, of the Third Side party.
The nomination period for the coming election will run from October 24 to November 6, while the poll itself will take place on December 7.