XN000022-1986-01-15 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1986

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NUMBER OF FUTURE ELIGIBLE ELECTORS ESTIMATED

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THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTAINING THE AGE OF 21 IN THE COMING 12 YEARS AND QUAL IF IED AS AN ELECTOR WILL BE BETWEEN 811 800 AND 1 018 800, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SZETO WAH, SIR DAVID SAID THE BEST ESTIMATE AVAILABLE FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT 1 018 800 PEOPLE WOULD REACH THE AGE OF 21 IN THE NEXT 12 YEARS AND AMONG THEM 811 800 WOULD HAVE BEEN BORN IN HONG KONG.

HE SAID THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE COMING 12 YEARS ATTAINING THE AGE OF 21 AND QUAL IF IED AS ELECTORS EITHER THROUGH HAVING BEEN BORN IN HONG KONG OR THROUGH HAVING SEVEN YEARS' RESIDENCE WOULD BE BETWEEN THOSE TWO FIGURES.

WHEN ASKED FOR THE ELECTORAL REGISTRATION RATE FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE YOUNG PERSONS WHO BECAME 21 IN THE IMMEDIATE PAST 12 MONTHS. SIR DAVID SAID THIS WAS NOT AVAILABLE AS NEW APPLICANTS FOR REGISTRATION AS AN ELECTOR WERE NOT REQUIRED TO STATE THEIR EXACT AGE.

+THEY ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO DECLARE THAT THEY ARE OVER 21 IN THE YEAR OF REGISTRATION.

+HAVING SAID THIS WE BELIEVE THAT THE RATE FOR YOUNG PERSONS AS A WHOLE IS BELOW THE OVERALL REGISTRATION RATE OF 47 PER CENT AND THIS MUST BE A MATTER FOR CONCERN, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, SIR DAVID ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS EXAMINING THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE APPLICATION FORM FOR INCLUSION IN A REGISTER OF ELECTORS SHOULD REQUIRE APPLICANTS TO STATE THEIR DATE OF BIRTH.

ON THE PLAN TO ENHANCE THE REGISTRATION RATE FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, SIR DAVID SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONCERNED THAT ALL THOSE ÉLIGIBLE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE IR RIGHTS TO BE REGISTERED.

+TO THIS END PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS ARE CONDUCTED BEFORE EACH ANNUAL PERIOD FOR REGISTRATION.

+THE CIVIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS ALSO SERVES TO INFORM AND REMIND YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE IR RIGHTS TO REGISTER AS ELECTORS,+ HE SAID.

+THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOW CONSIDERING WHETHER IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO SEND ALL PERSONS WHEN THEY REACH THE AGE OF 21 A LETTER SETTING OUT THE FACTS AND PROCEDURES IN REGARD TO REGISTRATION AS ELECTORS, SIR DAVID ADDED.

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