LB2AER
SECRET
THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATURE:
FUTURE OF SEATS NOW HELD BY APPOINTED AND OFFICIAL MEMBERS
1.
The present Hong Kong legislature is composed of 56
are indirectly elected by functional
members:
12
constituencies: 12 by electoral colleges: 22 are appointed
and 10 are official members.
2. The Joint Declaration provides that the legislature of
the Hong Kong Special Administration Region shall be
constituted
by
Section
I
elections (Annex
I
third
paragraph).
3.
arise from
ΝΟ problems of convergence therefore
members of the legislature who are
are indirectly elected (by
whatever method) or any who may before
may before 1997 be directly elected. However paragraph 17 of paper II: the Question
a of Convergence, handed by Sir Geoffrey
frey Howe to Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian in May noted, If convergence is to be achieved smoothly between the existing Legislative Council
and the future legislature of the Hong Kong SAR, then some provision will need
will need to be made for the seats now occupied
by appointed and official members.
4.
all
Until September 1985, all members of the Hong Kong
legislature were appointed by Governor. They were selected
to represent important sectors of Hong Kong society. The
system of appointment was continued after that date to
provide for continuity in the legislature and to enable
Hong Kong to benefit from the services of people who either
do not have the time, because of other business
commitments, would not be willing to become involved in
seeking membership through an electoral process.
have been suggestions that appointed
continue indefinitely (see 1984 White
19).
members
There
should
Paper, paragraph
-1-
SECRET