WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
J
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NEED SEEN FOR SPECIFIC GUIDELINES '
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SPECIFIC GUIDELINES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE THAT CANDIDATES OFFERING THEMSELVES FOR ELECTION AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FOUR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONSTITUENCIES ENJOYED THE FULL CONFIDENCE OF THEIR MEMBERS, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG SAID TODAY.
HE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE PROPOSED ELECTION PROCEDURES FOR THESE FOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY ENSURE REPRESENTATION BY THOSE HAVING THE CONFIDENCE OF THEIR MEMBERS AND OF THEIR GENERAL COMMITTEE.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED LEGCO DEBATE ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS BILL 1995, MR CHEONG SAID: +AS DRAFTED, ANY PERSON HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION WITH A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY CAN SUBMIT HIMSELF AS A CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION PROVIDING HE OBTAINS 10 SPONSORS, HAS THE NECESSARY RESIDENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND PAYS A DEPOSIT.
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HE SAID +SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION+ WAS DEFINED IN THE BILL AS ANY PERSON WHO WAS A MEMBER, PARTNER, DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR WAS CONCERNED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ANY BODY WHICH WAS AN ELECTOR IN A PARTICULAR CONSTITUENCY.
+THIS IS A VERY BROAD AND SWEEPING DEFINITION, WHICH COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO POLITICAL OPPORTUNISTS WHO HAD NO DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF THE SECTOR WHICH THEY WISH TO REPRESENT, AND HAD NO RECORD OF SERVICE TO THAT ORGANISATION, OR EVEN TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF WHICH THEY FORM A PART,+ HE SAID.
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+SOME MAY SAY THAT, UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH A CANDIDATE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SECURE THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO ENSURE HIS ELECTION.
+YET IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT EXPERIENCE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD HAS TAUGHT US THAT WITH ELECTIONS ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.+
THERE WAS THEREFORE LEGITIMATE CONCERN WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED THAT, THROUGH A COMBINATION OF CHARM AND WELL-ORGANISED CANVASSING, SUCH A PERSON COULD SECURE ELECTION AND YET BE QUITE UNABLE TO REPRESENT THE VIEWS AND REAL INTERESTS OF HONG KONG'S COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY GENERALLY AND OF THEIR MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES SHOULD BE SET OUT TO DEFINE THE TERM 'SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION MORE PRECISELY THAN IN THE BILL AND SHOULD BE USED BY THE REGISTRATION OFFICER IN CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT A CANDIDATE SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO STAND FOR ELECTION, MR CHEONG SAID.
SUCH DETAILS WOULD NECESSARILY BE PUBLISHED SO THAT PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES MIGHT MEASURE THEIR CREDENTIALS AGAINST THEM BEFORE REGISTRATION AS A CANDIDATE.
/+DUE TO