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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
the ballot paper. The process will continue until one candidate obtains an absolute majority over other candidates then remaining.
(c) Election Committee
The qualifications for candidature in the Legislative Council Election Committee election are the same as those for geographical constituency elections. The Election Committee is composed of 800 members who are HKSAR permanent residents from four sectors: (1) industrial, commercial and financial; (2) the professions; (3) labour, social services and religious; and (4) members of the Legislative Council, Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress, representatives of Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and representatives of district-based organisations. Each of these four sectors returns 200 members. Each sector is further divided into subsectors each returning a specified number of representatives to the Election Committee by election. Members of the Legislative Council and Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress are ex officio members of the Election Committee, and the religious subsector returns its representatives to the Election Committee by nomination from designated religious bodies.
The method for returning six members to the second term of the Legislative Council by the Election Committee is by the block vote system each member of the Election Committee is required to cast six votes and the result is determined by simple majority.
Electoral System for the District Councils
To advise the HKSAR Government on district affairs and to promote recreational and cultural activities, and environmental improvements within the districts, 18 District Councils (as they will be called from January 1, 2000) are established in the HKSAR. A District Council is composed of elected members, appointed members, and, in the case of District Councils in rural areas, the chairmen of Rural Committees as ex officio members. The HKSAR is divided into 390 constituencies, in each of which a member is elected. The simple majority method is adopted in these elections.
Electoral Affairs Commission
An independent statutory body, the Electoral Affairs Commission, is responsible for ensuring that elections in the HKSAR are conducted openly, honestly and fairly. It comprises three politically neutral persons appointed by the Chief Executive and is headed by a High Court judge. It is responsible for making recommendations to the Chief Executive on the delineation of geographical constituencies and District Council constituencies, making regulations on practical arrangements for elections, and handling complaints relating to elections. Its executive arm is the Registration and Electoral Office, a government department headed by the Chief Electoral Officer. The department works under the commission's direction and carries out its decisions.
Working Relationship of the HKSARG with the MFA Office
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA Office) was established in Hong Kong by the CPG to deal with foreign affairs. Article 13 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR provides that:
The CPG shall be responsible for the foreign affairs relating to the HKSAR.