direct the Preparatory Committee to have regard to these in
1996-1997.
Voting Method in Directly-elected Seats
48.
The Governor proposed in October 1992 that there should
be 20 members directly elected from 20 geographical
constituencies, and that the voting method in these
constituencies should be single seat, single vote (ie first
past the post).
49.
The single seat, single vote method is simple and
preserves a clear link between the electorate in each
constituency and their elected representative. The Hong Kong
electorate is accustomed to this system of voting in local
elections.
50.
The Chinese side proposed in Round 9 of the talks that
there should be 20 members directly elected from the existing
nine geographical constituencies using the multi-seat, single
vote method.
51.
In the view of Her Majesty's Government and the Hong Kong
Government, this would not provide a fair and open system. It
would artificially freeze the constituencies as they were
demarcated in 1991, taking no account of demographic trends in
Hong Kong. It also appears to be designed to ensure seats go to parties winning small percentages of the vote.
Election Committee
52. Her Majesty's Government and the Hong Kong Government
consider that if the election of ten members of the Legislative Council by an Election Committee is to be fair, open and
acceptable to the people of Hong Kong, two essential requirements will need to be satisfied:
statememt26.8/BRIEFS/NJH
27