XN000022-1993-10-20 — Page 2

1 -

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1993

BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993

THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED TO EXTEND THE STATUTORY TIMETABLE FROM DECEMBER 31, 1993 TO APRIL 30, 1994 FOR THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION (BEC) то SUBMIT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ΤΟ THE GOVERNOR ON CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES FOR THE

COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

THE

1995 MUNICIPAL

ELECTION IN THE

THE PROPOSAL IS CONTAINED IN

BOUNDARY AND COMMISSION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED GOVERNMENT GAZETTE THIS FRIDAY (OCTOBER 22) AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 27.

THE BEC IS AN INDEPENDENT BODY CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEMARCATING GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC. ITS WORK IS GOVERNED BY A STRICT STATUTORY TIMETABLE.

BE

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID UNDER THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION ORDINANCE, THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS MUST

BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MUNICIPAL COUNCIL SEATS CURRENTLY PROVIDED FOR IN LAW.

HOWEVER, THE COMPOSITION OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES RELATING TO THE 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE BEING DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.

THE LENGTH OF TIME TAKEN TO

COMPLETE THE TALKS HAD ALREADY MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE BEC то MEET ITS ORIGINAL SCHEDULE OF DECEMBER 31, 1993 IF THERE WERE то BE CHANGES TO THE NUMBER OF MUNICIPAL COUNCIL CONSTITUENCIES.

IT WAS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO EXTEND THE BEC'S SUBMISSION TIMETABLE IF ABORTIVE WORK WAS TO BE AVOIDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "THE NEW SUBMISSION DATE OF APRIL 30, 1994 TAKES ACCOUNT OF THE NEED TO COMPLETE ALL STATUTORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR SETTING THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL CONSTITUENCIES BEFORE THE END OF THE CURRENT LEGCO SESSION IN JULY

1994.

"UNDER THE LAW, THESE CONSTITUENCIES MUST BE SHOWN IN THE FINAL VOTER REGISTER TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE AUGUST 8, 1994. "

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED: "THE NEW TIMETABLE IS VERY TIGHT. THE BEC CANNOT START WORK ON THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL CONSTITUENCIES UNTIL THE TALKS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND LEGISLATION HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN ENACTED SPECIFYING THE NUMBER OF ELECTED SEATS.

WORK WHICH INCLUDES

"ONLY THEN CAN THE BEC CARRY OUT ITS TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT, THE FRAMING OF PROVISIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS, AND

A 30-DAY PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE BEFORE

RECOMMENDATIONS."

PREPARING ITS FINAL

/THE SPOKESMAN