from the legislature, the Municipal Councils and District Boards, statutory and non-statutory organizations and various other sectors of the community. 109. Those who favour this concept consider that such a body would be broadly representative and therefore likely to ensure that the legislatur buld continue to benefit from the talents and experience of members representing a wide range of interests. They also see the new electoral college as a means of reducing the risk of confrontational politics. Others have, however, questioned the representativeness of such a body, on the grounds that many of the proposed members might be persons who have themselves not been chosen by elections. Questions have also been raised as regards the criteria both for identifying the organizations and sectors to be included in the college and for determining the number of representatives for each of them.
110. The concept of a new electoral college would need to be further de- veloped before a conclusion could be drawn on whether such an arrangement would be desirable. A considerable amount of further thought and discussion would be required on issues such as the exact composition and membership of such a college, the proportion of members of the legislature to be elected by it and the procedures to be adopted for nominating and electing candidates. The concept of a new, broadly-based electoral college is therefore put forward as a matter for discussion for the longer term, rather than for consideration as an option for 1988.
Size and Balance of Membership of the Council
111. This Chapter has discussed a range of options for change to the com- position of the Legislative Council in 1988. The merits and demerits of each option can be evaluated separately. However, the cumulative impact of different combinations of options on the overall size and balance of membership of the Council must not be overlooked.
112. Certain combinations of options would not necessitate a significant increase in the overall size of the Council; but others would. The number of Council Members (excluding the President) was increased from 45 to 56 in 1985. The addition of more Members has undoubtedly helped in sharing out an increasing workload; but it has also contributed to the workload itself, as more Members wish to speak in debates, comment on legislation and question the Administration.
113. A reasonable balance has to be sought, so that while all individual Members are able to contribute to Council proceedings as fully as they wish, the business of the Council is also conducted efficiently. A small increase from the present 56 Members would not have significant implications for the conduct of the Council's business: by contrast, a large increase in the short term could well require major changes in the way in which the Council's business is organized and managed.
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