XN000022-1981-06-24 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1981

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+WHAT IS QUITE NEW IS THAT FORMAL DIRECT ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD FOR AT LEAST HALF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS, MR BRAY SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THERE WILL BE 122 CONSTITUENCIES THE URBAN AREAS AND 46 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

-

76 IN

+EVERYONE IN HONG KONG WILL LIVE IN ONE OF THESE CONSTITUENCIES. PRACTICALLY ALL ADULTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS,

MR BRAY EXPLAINED THAT THE BOARDS COVER DISTRICTS, WITH BOUNDARIES DRAWN UP WITHOUT FORMAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WANTED TO GET THE BOARDS +WORKING QUICKLY+,

THESE BOUNDARIES ARE NOW TRADITIONAL, BUT A BOUNDARIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MAY BE LATER SET UP TO DEAL WITH ADJUSTMENTS IF NECESSARY.

+

+THE QUESTION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS WAS LEFT INDETERMINATE', IN THE WHITE PAPER AND THE BILL PROVIDES THAT THE CHAIRMEN OF THE FIRST BOARDS, UP TO MARCH 1985, WILL BE OFFICIALS. AFTER THAT DATE, THE CHAIRMEN WILL BE ELECTED BY THE BOARD MEMBERS FROM AMONG THE IR NUMBER, HE SAID.

THE TWO OTHER BILLS WHICH MR BRAY INTRODUCED ARE THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS BILL, WHICH OUTLINES THE PROCEDURES FOR ELECTIONS TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, AND THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL, WHICH CHANGES THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE BY REMOVING THE ELECTION PROVISIONS.

ON THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS BILL, MR BRAY SAID ALL THAT MOST PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BILL ISI

*

PRACTICALLY EVERYONE OVER 21 WHO HAS BEEN HERE SEVEN YEARS MAY VOTE,

*

TO BECOME ENTITLED TO VOTE YOU HAVE TO REGISTER, AND

* ON ELECTION DAY YOU GO TO A POLLING STATION

TO VOTE.

+THE WHOLE THING WILL BE MADE VERY SIMPLE, HE SAID.

WITH REGARD TO THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL, HE SAID IT CHANGES THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE BY TAKING OUT THE PROVISIONS FOR ELECTIONS (NOW CONTAINED IN THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS BILL, WHICH DEALS WITH ELECTIONS TO BOTH THE COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS) AND IT CHANGES THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL ITSELF.

DEBATE ON THE THREE BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.

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