BACKGROUND
1. The Urban Council in Hong Kong consists of 30 members, 15 of whom are elected and 15 appointed by the Governor. The Council's responsibilities are limited to the urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon (where about 70% of the population of the territory live). Its main duties cover public hygiene, markets, parks and playgrounds and recreational and cultural facilities.
2.
A new franchise, whereby all residents of Hong Kong aged over 21 who have lived in the territory for at least 7 years are eligible to register as voters was introduced for the District Board elections held in 1982. The 1983 elections were the first that this franchise had been used for the Urban Council. Also for the first time elections were held in 1983 on a constituency basis.
3. The Hong Kong Government estimates that about 2,174,900 people living in the urban area were eligible to register as electors. The proportion who did register was therefore about one third. This figure and the percentage of registered electors who actually voted in the Urban Council elections compare very favourably with elections held under the old, more limited franchise.
4.
The draft reply has been agreed with the Hong Kong Government.
Distribution
Parliamentary Unit Mr Giffard
Hong Kong Department