12 Constitution and Administration
40 members under the religious subsector who are nominated by six designated bodies.
The election of the third term Chief Executive by the EC was held on March 25, 2007. Mr Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was declared as returned at the election. On April 2, 2007, in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law and the outcome of the election by the EC, the State Council of the PRC appointed Mr Tsang as the third term Chief Executive, with his term of office commencing on July 1, 2007.
Implementing Universal Suffrage for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council
The Government has now a clear timetable for attaining universal suffrage. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) promulgated a decision on December 29, 2007 making it clear that the Chief Executive may be elected by universal suffrage in 2017 and that the Legislative Council may be formed by universal suffrage in 2020. The NPCSC has made a positive response to the democratic aspirations of the people of Hong Kong. This decision is welcomed by the HKSAR Government, different political parties, different sectors and the wider community.
The NPCSC's decision has also determined that appropriate amendments conforming to the principle of gradual and orderly progress may be made to the two electoral methods in 2012. The elections for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council in 2012 can be made more democratic.
In November 2009, the Government launched the Public Consultation on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive and for Forming the Legislative Council in 2012 so as to gauge the views of the Legislative Council, different political parties, different sectors and organisations of the community. The aim of the current-term HKSAR Government is to determine the two electoral methods for 2012 within the tenure, with a view to laying a solid foundation for attaining universal suffrage for the Chief Executive in 2017, and for the Legislative Council in 2020.
Electoral System for the District Councils
Eighteen District Councils were established in the HKSAR to advise the Government on district affairs and to promote recreational and cultural activities, and environmental improvements within the districts. 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 simple majority voting system is adopted for elections. For the third-term councils (2008- 2011), the HKSAR was divided into 405 constituencies, each represented by one elected member.
Electoral Affairs Commission
The Electoral Affairs Commission, an independent statutory body, is responsible for ensuring that elections in the HKSAR are conducted openly, honestly, fairly and in accordance with the law. It comprises three politically neutral persons appointed by the Chief Executive and is headed by a High Court judge. The commission is responsible for making recommendations to the Chief Executive on the delineation