[1] Chief Executive John Lee said a vetting mechanism will also be introduced to prevent the "anti-China troublemakers" and those promoting "separatism" and violence from "manipulating and paralysing" the councils, and to safeguard national security and implement the principle of "patriots running Hong Kong", following the landslide victory of the pro-democracy camp in the 2019 elections amid the massive anti-government protests.

[3][4] In the democrat-controlled District Councils, motions in support of protesters, condemning police violence and grills of government officials including then Commission of Police Chris Tang took place, before the installation of the Hong Kong national security law by Beijing in June 2020 to criminalise "secession" from China and "subversion" of the state power and the passage of the Public Offices (Candidacy and Taking Up Offices) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2021 in May 2021 to imposes oath-taking requirements on District Council members.

[6] More than 260 pro-democracy councillors resigned amid reports the government planned to ban them from take part of the oath, while eight other had been unseated as they were in custody or had left the city due to various cases including the violation of national security.

Although the High Court granted leave for judicial review considering that the case had a "realistic prospect of success," it finally dismissed in the view that the evidence was not sufficient and the new rule under the ordinance might not seem to be manifestly unreasonable.

He also dismissed the claim that the reform proposal was "regressive", arguing that the District Councils were only auxiliary administrative organs which should not be seen as a channel of Hong Kong democratic development.

[16] Convened by DAB chairwoman Starry Lee, representatives from pro-Beijing political parties and different social sectors formed an alliance in support of the government reform proposal.