XN000022-1991-05-19 — Page 2

1

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 1991

REVIEW OF HK'S ELECTORAL SYSTEM TIMELY

BY THE

THE STUDY OF HONG KONG'S ELECTORAL SYSTEM UNDERTAKEN LONDON-BASED ELECTORAL REFORM SOCIETY (ERS) IS TIMELY BECAUSE THE HONG LEGISLATION KONG GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REVIEW THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE GAINED IN THE VARIOUS ELECTIONS HELD YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, TODAY (SUNDAY).

THIS SAID

THE

THE STUDY WOULD CERTAINLY BE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF

MR PROCESS, REVIEW

SUEN SAID AT A

ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT.

SEMINAR

DEMOCRACY

INPUT IN AND

HE

SAID

COUNCIL IN ON THE WHICH WAS BOTH

LEGISLATIVE THE DIRECT ELECTIONS. TO THE SEPTEMBER WAS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT EVENT THAT IT WAS INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A RESPONSIBLE APPROACH, USING A SYSTEM WELL TRIED OUT AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, ONE WHICH WAS FAMILIAR TO THE CANDIDATES AND THE ELECTORATE AT LARGE, RATHER THAN WITH NEW ARRANGEMENTS.

EXPERIMENTING

CARRFUL NEW

ON ELECTION BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, MR SUEN SAID CONSIDERATION WOULD HAVE TO BE GIVEN TO THE CREATION OF NINE MORE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES BEFORE THE 1995 ELECTIONS.

REGULATIONS BE

HE NOTED THAT ERS REPORT HAD RECOMMENDED THAT

AS DEVISED TO PRESCRIBE IN DETAIL THE QUALIFICATION OF ELECTORS, SUCH

ORGANISATION COULD REQUIRING A TWO-YEAR QUALIFYING PERIOD BEFORE AN BECOME ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY.

H

"THIS PROPOSAL REQUIRES VERY CAREFUL TREATMENT AS IT RAISES

WE SHOULD MORE

ISSUE

SO FUNDAMENTAL

HOW, AS TO WHETHER, AND IF PRESCRIBE TO THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL, TRADE OR OTHER WELL-ESTABLISHED ASSOCIATIONS WHICH MAKE UP THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, AS AT SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BE A MEMBER AND TO QUALIFY TO VOTE MEETINGS, HE SAID.

A

TO WHO GENERAL

MERIT

WHEREBY

ON VOTER REGISTRATION, MR SUEN SAID HE COULD SEE CERTAIN

U.K. IN

ENUMERATION

AND CANADA THE

APPROACH USED IN THE SPECIAL STAFF WERE EMPLOYED BEFORE A GENERAL ELECTION TO ENUMERATE ALL THE ELECTORS THROUGH DOOR-TO-DOOR VISITS.

"WE PLAN TO STUDY IT IN DETAIL BEFORE A FIRM VIEW IS TAKEN THE WAY AHEAD IN THIS CONNEXION," HE SAID.

ON

MR SUEN NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SUGGESTION THAT FORMER HONG HONG KONG RESIDENTS NOW LIVING OVERSEAS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN KONG. AT PRESENT THE ELECTORAL LAWS ONLY ALLOW A QUALIFIED PERSON REMAIN AN ELECTOR FOR SO LONG AS HE OR SHE IS ORDINARILY RESIDENT HONG KONG.

ΤΟ

IN

/HE NOTED