Founded in 2006, the once-star-studded Hong Kong Civic Party is dying. With no one raising their hands to carry the torch after the term of the incumbent executive body is due to expire this month, the party is on the way out of the city’s political game. Dissolution work could start as soon as this week.

Coincidentally on the same day that news of the imminent demise of the Civic Party came out, the Democratic Party held a press conference after a general meeting to announce its incumbent chairman Lo Kin-hei was re-elected uncontested. A new executive committee whose membership was downsized from 15 to 10 in a bid to lessen risk posed by the national security law was formed.

The Democrats, once dubbed as the flagship of the city’s pro-democracy camp, is still alive, but half-dead, to put it modestly.

The plight of the two major pro-democracy forces is hardly coincidental, but to cynics, just a matter of time in the wake of the seismic change in the political landscape that unfolded after the national security law was enacted and the election system revamped.

It has therefore come as no surprise that the two pieces of news about the Democrats and the Civic Party on Saturday (3/12) have caused a disquiet among their supporters and in the society.

As the democratic force slipped further towards non-existence, the Government took a major step forward in building a new city-wide network of District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams), or a novel creature in district polity.

In a paper sent to legislators, the Government has thrashed out more details of the Care Teams, which figured prominently in the maiden policy address announced by Chief Executive John Lee in October.

More than 30 Care Teams will be set up in sub-districts in Tsuen Wan and the Southern District in the first quarter of 2023 respectively, followed by another 300-odd Care Teams in the remaining 16 districts in phases. Each team will compose of 8 to 12 members with a budget between HK$800,000 to HK$1,200,000 in a two-year period.

Although each team will be set up in each constituency area in the 18 districts in accordance with the District Council election boundary, they will not be reporting to the relevant District Council, but directly to the relevant government District Officer.

Importantly, the Care Teams will be selected by the Government from a list of applicants. One major criteria is that the applicants must “love China, love Hong Kong.”

In his policy address, Lee said the Care Teams will take part in community building and organise caring activities such as visiting the needy.

Like news about the Civic Party and the Democratic Party, details of the Care Teams have not drawn much media interest, not to mention public attention. This is despite the fact that they are part of the profound transformation of the city’s political landscape in districts.

Following a revamp of the election system, the Legislative Council constituted after last year’s election does not have any members from pro-democracy political parties. It marks a big step towards the implementation of the policy of “patriots administering Hong Kong.”

Seen from that light, the formation of the Care Teams is another big step towards revamping the political structure at the district level under the same patriots-rule policy.

With the current term of district councils just about one year to go, their future is still mired in uncertainty. Even if an election is held in 2023, the number of elected seats in the 18 district councils looks certain to be drastically cut. The role and functions of the district council are likely to be significantly trimmed.

Enter the Care Teams under the Government’s District Offices.

According to the policy paper, the teams will help canvass public opinions and assist the work of district offices.

By installing a network of Care Teams, the Government intends to strengthen the role and functions of district offices in district affairs, and to weaken the power and role of district councils.

Thanks to the criteria of “love China, love Hong Kong” in the vetting of Care Teams, the pro-establishment camp and their friendly groups in districts are no doubt in a strong position to snap up the right to form Care Teams.

With a quasi-official status and regular funding, the Care Teams will emerge as the helping hands of the two pro-establishment forces, namely the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong and the Federation of Trade Unions, in their district work.

Composed of pro-establishment political parties, Care Teams and district offices, the political landscape at district level will form an integral part of the executive-led structure.

Scenes of the pan-democrats seizing control of 17 out of the 18 district councils after the 2019 election will no longer happen again with democratic parties fading out and a new governing coalition featuring Care Teams taking shape and running district affairs.

▌[At Large] About the Author

Chris Yeung is a veteran journalist, a founder and chief writer of the now-disbanded CitizenNews; he now runs a daily news commentary channel on Youtube. He had formerly worked with the South China Morning Post and the Hong Kong Economic Journal.