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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Article 157
The Hong Kong Civic Association consider that Article 157 needs to be more definitive and explicit in stating that the HKSAR Courts are the only organs empowered to interpret the Articles of the Basic Law within the autonomy of the HKSAR.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Members
1/3rd of the membership directly elected from 10 to 12 constituencies 20-24
1/3rd elected from functional constituencies 1/3rd appointed and official members (See Appendix 2)
20-24 20-24 60-72
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Article 158
The Hong Kong Civic Association propose that the Committee for the Basic Law of the HKSAR, under the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, should become a permanent quasi-judicial body whose recommendations if proposed by a majority of members, should be fully binding.
The Legislature
The Hong Kong Civic Association believe that if the 'One Country-two Systems' principle is to succeed, Hong Kong's system of representative government must develop in parallel with her expanding capitalist economic system.
There will be a need for more economic cooperation and interface between the Hong Kong capitalist economy and China's socialist economy on the one hand, and for a greater spirit of mutual political coexistence and tolerance on the other hand.
The Civic Association propose that when sovereignty is returned to China in 1997, the Legislature should comprise 50% directly elected members and 50% members elected from functional constituencies.
At the 1999 election of the legislature, the directly elected membership could be increased to a maximum of two-thirds of the number of legislators.
The Civic Association propose 100% directly elected representatives to the legislature in the year 2003 subject to:
(a) a referendum where over 50% of the registered voters who come out to vote indicate their support; and
(b) two-thirds of the legislature vote in favour of such a change. (See Appendix 1)
The Hong Kong Civic Association do not favour a bi-cameral legislature for Hong Kong on the grounds that it would seriously affect the efficiency, effectiveness and productivity of the executive, administrative and legislative processes in Hong Kong.
The Civic Association therefore propose building on the existing well-tried system by initiating direct elections to the legislature in 1991 as follows:
Between 1991-1995 the Governor should withdraw as President and the legislature should elect a Speaker or President from among its membership.
The system of select committees covering the portfolios of the Branch Secretaries should be introduced into the legislative process as soon as possible, each select committee to be chaired by an Executive Councillor or a senior member of the legislature. This system should provide interface and cooperation between the Executive and the Legislative processes.
At the 1995 election of the legislature, the composition of the membership should be 50% directly elected and 50% elected from the functional constituencies. Thus between 1995 and 1997 the legislative machinery will be in place for a smooth transition of sovereignty in 1997.
The Chief Executive
The Civic Association propose that the first Chief Executive should be elected from a grand electoral college of 800 members, and that there should be a maximum of 8 candidates, each of whom should be nominated by not less than 1/8th of the grand electoral college membership who should each nominate only one candidate.
The Civic Association also propose that the Chief Executive in the year 2002 be elected by universal franchise from a slate of maximum 8 candidates, nominated by an 800-member grand electoral college, each candidate to be nominated by not less than 1/8th of the grand electoral college.
Hilton CHEONG-LEEN Chairman