# Yuen Long District Council

The Yuen Long District Council (Chinese: 元朗區議會) is the district council for the Yuen Long District in Hong Kong. It is one of 18 such councils. The Yuen Long District currently consists of 46 members, of which the district is divided into four constituencies, electing a total of 8 members, 16 district committee members, 16 appointed members, and 6 ex officio members who are the Shap Pat Heung, San Tin, Ha Tsuen, Kam Tin, Ping Shan and Pat Heung rural committee chairmen. The latest election was held on 10 December 2023.

## History

The Yuen Long District Council was established on 1 April 1981 under the name of the Yuen Long District Board as the result of the colonial Governor Murray MacLehose's District Administration Scheme reform. The District Board was partly elected with the ex-officio Regional Council members and chairmen of six Rural Committees, Shap Pat Heung, San Tin, Ha Tsuen, Kam Tin, Ping Shan and Pat Heung, as well as members appointed by the Governor until 1994 when last Governor Chris Patten refrained from appointing any member.
The Yuen Long District Board became Yuen Long Provisional District Board after the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was established in 1997 with the appointment system being reintroduced by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa. The current Yuen Long District Council was established on 1 January 2000 after the first District Council election in 1999. The appointed seats were abolished in 2015 after the modified constitutional reform proposal was passed by the Legislative Council in 2010.
The Yuen Long District Council is one of the fastest growing council due to the development of the new towns of Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai, and has become the largest council of the territory. It had been tightly dominated by the rural forces due to its vast rural areas and the ex-officio rural committee representatives. The chairmanship of the council had been taken by rural or rural-related councillors, such as Tai Kuen, chairman from 1985 to 1999, was a rural strongman; Tang Siu-tong, chairman from 2000 to 2007, was a rural leader which represented the Hong Kong Progressive Alliance and was elected to the Legislative Council in 2000 on the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) ticket; Leung Che-cheung, chairman from 2008 to 2015, was a member of the DAB and president of the New Territories Association of Societies (NTAS) who has been Legislative Councillor since 2012.
The Tin Shui Wai new town was also dominated by the pro-Beijing forces. The pro-democrats have limited influence in the district, such as Zachary Wong and Kwong Chun-yu in Long Ping Estate and the pro-Taipei Democratic Alliance's Johnny Mak in Fung Cheung. On the capacity of Yuen Long District Councillor, Kwong was elected to the Legislative Council through the District Council (Second) constituency in 2016.
The pro-Beijing and rural domination was turned over in the 2019 historic landslide victory where the pro-democrats took over all the urban constituencies and a few rural constituencies amid the massive pro-democracy protests. All pro-Beijing councillors in Tin Shui Wai including Luk Chung-hung of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) being unseated and some rural incumbents were also surprisingly defeated. As a result, the pro-democrats took 33 of the 39 elected seats and seized control of the 45-member council for the first time.
In the 2023 District Council election, 8 of the 46 seats on the Yuen Long District Council are elected by elected members, 16 are elected by district committees, 16 are appointed members, and 6 ex-officio members make up the current Yuen Long District Council. In the Yuen Long District Council, among the 46 members, 29 are independent members, 12 are from the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, 3 from the Federation of Trade Unions, 1 from the Economic Alliance for Democracy, and 1 from democratic ideas. Among the 46 members, 45 are from the pro-establishment camp. ,1 centrist seat.

## Political control

Since 1982 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:
| Camp in control | Largest party | Years |
| No Overall Control | None | 1982 - 1985 |
| Pro-government | Reform Club | 1985 - 1988 |
| Pro-government | Meeting Point | 1988 - 1991 |
| Pro-government | United Democrats | 1991 - 1994 |
| Pro-Beijing | Democratic | 1994 - 1997 |
| Pro-Beijing | Democratic | 1997 - 1999 |
| Pro-Beijing | DAB | 2000 - 2003 |
| Pro-Beijing | DAB | 2004 - 2007 |
| Pro-Beijing | DAB | 2008 - 2011 |
| Pro-Beijing | DAB | 2012 - 2015 |
| Pro-Beijing | DAB | 2016 - 2019 |
| Pro-democracy → Pro-Beijing | Democratic → None | 2020 - 2023 |
| Pro-Beijing | DAB | 2024 - 2027 |

## Political makeup

Elections are held every four years.
| Political party | Council members | Council members | Council members | Council members | Council members | Council members | Council members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members |
| Political party | 1994 | 1999 | 2003 | 2007 | 2011 | 2015 | 2019 | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members | Current members |
| Independent | 15 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 25 / 45 |
| Democratic | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 / 45 |
| TSWC | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 3 / 45 |
| Action 18 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 / 45 |
| DA | - | - | 4 | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 / 45 |
| Civic Passion | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 / 45 |
| TSWLPU | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 / 45 |

## District result maps

* 1994
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019

## Members represented

| Capacity | Code | Constituency | Name | Political affiliation | Term | Term |
| Elected | M01 | Yuen Long Town Centre | Riben Li Kai-lap | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Elected | M01 | Yuen Long Town Centre | Sei Chun-hing | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Elected | M02 | Yuen Long Rural East | Leung Min-kin | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Elected | M02 | Yuen Long Rural East | Chui Kwan-siu | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Elected | M03 | Tin Shui Wai South and Ping Ha | Terry So Yuen | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Elected | M03 | Tin Shui Wai South and Ping Ha | Yankie Chan Kin-yang | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Elected | M04 | Tin Shui Wai North | Yiu Kwok-wai | FTU | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Elected | M04 | Tin Shui Wai North | Fennie Lai Yuet-kwan | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Tom Tong Tak-chun | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Leung Yip-pang | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Ma Shuk-yin | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Lam Wai-ming | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Calvin Sze To Chun-hin | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Lau Kwai-yung | FTU | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Lam Wai-ming | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Amy Yuen Man-yee | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Man Yick-yeung | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Lam Chung-yin | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Wong Shiu-chung | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Ricky Tsui Wai-ngoi | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Wong Yuen-tai | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Lucy Ho Hiu-man | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Ronnie Tang Yung-yiu | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| District Committees | District Committees | District Committees | Li Ching-yee | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Yu Chung-leung | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Lui Kin | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Weelie Wong Wai-ling | DAB | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Wong Hiu-shan | FTU | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Chong Kin-shing | BPA | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Allan Wong Wing-ho | PoD | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Wilson Shum Ho-kit | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Donald Man Ka-ho | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Desmond Wong Wai-leung | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Lam Tim-fook | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Cheung Wai-sum | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Chan Ka-fai | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Daniel Cham Ka-hung | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Frankie Fung Chun-wing | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Chiu Sau-han | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Appointed | Appointed | Appointed | Tam Tak-hoi | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Ex officio | Ex officio | Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee Chairman | Ching Chan-ming | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Ex officio | Ex officio | San Tin Rural Committee Chairman | Man Luk-shing | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Ex officio | Ex officio | Ha Tsuen Rural Committee Chairman | Tang Sin-hang | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Ex officio | Ex officio | Kam Tin Rural Committee Chairman | Tang Ho-lin | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Ex officio | Ex officio | Ping Shan Rural Committee Chairman | Tang Che-keung | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |
| Ex officio | Ex officio | Pat Heung Rural Committee Chairman | Alan Kwok Wing-cheong | Independent | 1 January 2024 | Incumbent |

## Leadership
### Chairs

Since 1985, the chairman is elected by all the members of the board:
| Chairman | Years | Political Affiliation |
| Fung Kwok-keung | 1981–1982 | District Officer |
| J. K. Wilson | 1982–1985 | District Officer |
| Tai Kuen | 1985–1999 | Heung Yee Kuk |
| Tang Siu-tong | 2000–2007 | PA→DAB |
| Leung Che-cheung | 2008–2015 | DAB/NTAS |
| Shum Ho-kit | 2016–2019 | Heung Yee Kuk |
| Zachary Wong Wai-ying | 2020–2021 | Democratic |
| Shum Ho-kit | 2021–2023 | Independent |
| Gordon Wu Tin-yau | 2024–present | District Officer |

### Vice Chairs

| Vice Chairman | Years | Political Affiliation |
| Leung Che-cheung | 2000–2008 | DAB |
| Tang Yun-chor | 2008–2011 | Heung Yee Kuk |
| Leung Fuk-yuen | 2011 | Heung Yee Kuk |
| Wong Wai-shun | 2012–2019 | NPP→BPA |
| Johnny Mak Ip-sing | 2020–2021 | Democratic Alliance |
| Tang Ho-lin | 2021–2023 | Independent |