FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1985
IN BOTH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, A CANDIDATE MUST HAVE A RESIDENTIAL QUALIFICATION OF 10 YEARS. A CANDIDATE FOR A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY MUST IN ADDITION HAVE A +SUBSTANTIAL CONNECTION WITH THAT CONSTITUENCY, FOR EXAMPLE HE SHOULD BE A MEMBER, DIRECTOR, PARTNER OR OFFICER OF A COMPANY IN THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONSTITUENCIES, OR BE ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF BANKING IN THE FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY. IN THE CASE OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, THE MEMBERS WILL BE FREE TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE CONSTITUENCY, IF THEY SO WISH, A PERSON WHO HOLDS PUBLIC OFFICE E.G. IS EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAND AS A CANDIDATE- AND NO PERSON MAY STAND AS A CANDIDATE IN MORE THAN ONE CONSTITUENCY.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THOSE CANDIDATES WHO ARE ELECTED TO BE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE CONSENSUS OF THE VOTERS IN THEIR CONSTITUENCIES, AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY VOTING PROCEDURE WILL BE USED, RATHER THAN THE SIMPLE MAJOR ITY PROCEDURE USED IN THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS ELECTIONS. UNDER THE ABSOLUTE MAJORITY PROCEDURE A CANDIDATE MUST SECURE MORE THAN 50% OF THE VOTES CAST IN ORDER TO WIN. THE DETAILS OF THE VOTING PROCEDURE WILL BE SET OUT IN THE SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS WHICH WILL BE MADE AFTER THE BILL HAS BEEN ENACTED.
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985 ALSO PROVIDES FOR DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS USED (PART I), THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS (PART II), THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS (PART !V), THE SUPERVISION OF THE ELECTIONS (PART VI), ELECTION PETITIONS (PART VII) AND VARIOUS MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS (PART VIII), INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING TO BE IN SECRET.
SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS CONTAINING DETAILED PROCEDURES FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS, THE APPOINTMENT OF AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SUPERVISION OF THE ELECTIONS WILL BE PUBLISHED SEPARATELY, AS SOON AS THEY HAVE BEEN FINALISED AND APPROVED.
THE FIRST ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR AND WILL BE SUPERVISED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, IN A SIMILAR FASHION TO THAT IN WHICH THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED AT PRESENT.
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