14 Constitution and Administration
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. In accordance with the District Councils Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Order 2010 approved by the Legislative Council on December 3, 2010, the number of constitutencies will be increased to 412 for the fourth-term District Councils (2012-2015).
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 of geographical constituencies and District Council constituencies, making regulations on practical arrangements for the Chief Executive election, the Legislative Council election, the District Council election and rural elections, and handling complaints relating to these elections. The Registration and Electoral Office, a government department headed by the Chief Electoral Officer, works under the commission's direction and carries out its decisions.
HKSAR's External Affairs
The HKSAR continues to play an active role in the international arena and maintains close contact with its international partners.
In 2010, representatives of the HKSAR Government, as members of the PRC delegation, took part in over 120 international conferences limited to states, including those organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The HKSAR also took part in over 820 inter-governmental conferences not limited to states in the capacity of 'Hong Kong, China', including those organised by the World Trade Organisation, Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation and the World Customs Organisation.
In accordance with Article 151 of the Basic Law, the HKSAR concluded over 20 agreements with foreign states in 2010 on matters such as economic and financial co-operation, maritime technical co-operation, postal co-operation and co-operation on wine-related businesses. With the authorisation of the Central People's Government (CPG), the HKSAR also concluded 12 bilateral agreements with foreign states on air services, investment promotion and protection, mutual legal assistance and visa abolition during the year.
Active participation in international activities and close liaison with international partners have enabled the HKSAR to maintain its status as an international financial, trade, civil aviation and shipping centre.
There is a large foreign representation in the HKSAR, including 58 consulates- general, 61 consulates and five officially recognised international bodies.