XN000022-1992-10-07 — Page 52

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992

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"TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM WHILE PRESERVING A STRAIGHTFORWARD SYSTEM, THE BEST OPTION IN MY VIEW IS TO GIVE EACH ELECTOR A SINGLE VOTE FOR A SINGLE DIRECTLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE IN A SINGLE SEAT CONSTITUENCY.

HE

**

SAID THE METHOD WAS WELL KNOWN FROM MUNICIPAL COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS AND IT ALSO REFLECTED THE VIEWS OF MOST MEMBERS OF LEGCO.

FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY REVISIONS

THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO LOOK BOTH AT THE EXISTING 21 FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND AT THE NINE NEW ONES TO BE CREATED.

IN RELATION TO THE PRESENT ONES, MR PATTEN SAID HE PROPOSED THAT ALL FORMS OF CORPORATE VOTING SHOULD BE REPLACED BY INDIVIDUAL VOTERS. THUS, CORPORATE VOTERS IN THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL CONSTITUENCIES SHOULD BE REPLACED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN OR CONTROL THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CORPORATIONS CONCERNED.

FOR EXAMPLE ALL DIRECTORS OF COMPANIES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE, INSTEAD OF JUST THE COMPANIES THEMSELVES.

"ACCORDING ΤΟ THE SAME PRINCIPLE, VOTES WOULD BE GIVEN TO DESIGNATED OFFICE BEARERS OF TRADE UNIONS IN THE LABOUR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY; AND REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ALONGSIDE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF WELFARE AGENCIES THE SOCIAL SERVICES CONSTITUENCY,

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HE SAID.

IN

MR PATTEN SAID THAT TAKEN TOGETHER THESE MEASURES WOULD EXPAND THE FRANCHISE IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES CONCERNED BY MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, AND ALSO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE CRITICISMS LEVELLED AT THE EXISTING SYSTEM.

FOR THE NINE NEW CONSTITUENCIES, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE SIMPLEST AND FAIREST APPROACH WOULD BE TO DEFINE THEM SO THAT THEY INCLUDED THE ENTIRE WORKING POPULATION.

HE SAID THIS COULD BE DONE BY FOLLOWING THE EXISTING CLASSIFICATION OF OUR INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS, IN EACH OF WHICH EVERY WORKER WOULD HAVE A VOTE:

- PRIMARY PRODUCTION, POWER AND CONSTRUCTION;

TEXTILES AND GARMENTS;

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MANUFACTURING;

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IMPORT AND EXPORT;

-

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL;

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HOTELS AND CATERING;

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS;

—

FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE, AND BUSINESS SERVICES; AND COMMUNITY, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL SERVICES.

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