XN000022-1990-03-21 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990

1

CS ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF EXPANDED LEGISLATURE FOR 1991

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, ANNOUNCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DETAILS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S NEXT STEPS TOWARDS A MORE DIRECTLY REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.

SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1991 WOULD BE INCREASED FROM THE 10 PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE 1988 WHITE PAPER TO 18.

"IN CONSIDERING THE COMPOSITION OF THE REST OF THIS COUNCIL, THE CHALLENGE TO US HAS BEEN TO SET IN TRAIN A PROCESS OF REFORM WHICH WILL TAKE US SMOOTHLY THROUGH THE TRANSITION YEARS, HE ADDED.

FURTHER CHANGES PROPOSED ARE:

A)

TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FUNCTIONAL FROM 14 TO 21;

CONSTITUENCY

SEATS

B)

TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF APPOINTED MEMBERS FROM 20 TO 17;

C)

TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COUNCIL ALL OFFICIAL MEMBERS EXCEPT THE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS AND;

D)

TO APPOINT A NON-OFFICIAL MEMBER AS DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL.

AS REGARDS THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE IN THIS LATEST STAGE OF REFORM HAD BEEN TO BROADEN THE BASE OF REPRESENTATION BY FUNCTIONAL GROUPS.

'IN 1995, WE WILL CONTINUE THIS PROCESS SO THAT THE BROADEST SPECTRUM OF INTERESTS CAN BE SEPARATELY IDENTIFIED IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL," HE ADDED.

THE SEVEN NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE:

THE URBAN COUNCIL;

THE REGIONAL

COUNCIL:

RURAL INTERESTS

—

REPRESENTED BY THE HEUNG YEE KUK;

TOURISM:

FINANCIAL SERVICES - COMPRISING STOCKBROKING, COMMODITIES FUTURES TRADING, THE CHINESE GOLD AND SILVER EXCHANGE AND INSURANCE SECTOR;

AND

THE

/THE CONSTRUCTION