CONFIDENTIAL
MRB 011/8.
26 SEP 1988
78
130576
MDLIAN 9610
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 3592
OF 23103OZ SEPTEMBER 88
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON INFO PRIORITY HKGO WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO BRUSSELS INFO PRIORITY HKGO GENEVA, UKMIS GENEVA
INFO SAVING SAN FRANCISCO
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS
SUMMARY
1. ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE THREE-YEAR TERM COMMENCING OCTOBER 1988 WERE HELD YESTERDAY (22 SEPTEMBER). A TOTAL OF 33 CANDIDATES CONTESTED 13 SEATS IN NINE ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONSTITUENCIES AND FOUR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTORAL DIVISIONS. EARLIER, 13 OTHER CANDIDATES HAD BEEN RETURNED UNOPPOSED (SEE OUR TELNO 3074). THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES CAN BE DESCRIBED AS CONSERVATIVES OR MODERATES.
DETAIL
VOTER TURNOUT
2. VOTER TURNOUT IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONSTITUENCIES WAS OVER 97 PER CENT (99 PER CENT IN 1985). THE OVERALL TURNOUT RATE FOR THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WAS 54 PER CENT. (57.6 PER CENT IN 1985). THE FIGURES ARE, HOWEVER, NOT STRICTLY COMPARABLE BECAUSE DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES WERE INVOLVED. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE LEGAL CONSTITUENCIES, WHICH HAD THE HIGHEST TURNOUT RATES IN 1985 (97 AND 86 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY) WERE UNCONTESTED THIS YEAR, WHEREAS THE NEW ACCOUNTANCY AND HEALTH CARE ELECTORAL DIVISIONS HAD RELATIVELY LOW TURNOUTS OF 44 AND 53 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
ARRANGEMENTS
3. IN ALL CASES VOTING WAS ORDERLY AND THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT COMPLAINTS OR INCIDENTS ON POLLING DAY. THE PREFERENTIAL ELIMINATION VOTING SYSTEM INTRODUCED THIS YEAR WAS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PREFERENTIAL ADDITION SYSTEM PREVIOUSLY USED FOR THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE 'REPEATED BALLOT'' SYSTEM PREVIOUSLY USED FOR THE ELECTORAL COLLEGES.
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ELECTION RESULTS
4. OF THE 26 MEMBERS RETURNED, 15 WERE FORMER ELECTED MEMBERS,
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