XN000022-1993-12-10 — Page 2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1993

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ELECTORAL PROVISIONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) (NO. 2) BILL 1993

THE

ELECTORAL PROVISIONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) (NO. 2)

BILL 1993 WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE BILL DEALS WITH THE MORE IMMEDIATE ISSUES RELATING TO THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS THAT REQUIRE EARLY LEGISLATION.

THE BILL'S MAIN PROVISIONS ARE:

*

A "SINGLE SEAT, SINGLE VOTE" SYSTEM OF VOTING FOR THE THREE TIERS OF GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS;

* LOWERING OF THE MINIMUM VOTING AGE FROM 21 TO 18 YEARS;

*

*

ABOLITION OF THE APPOINTED MEMBERSHIP IN THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS (MC'S) AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS (DB'S);

INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ELECTED SEATS IN THE MC'S; AND

TO RELAX THE EXISTING RESTRICTION ON HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S CONGRESSES FROM RUNNING ELECTIONS AND HOLDING OFFICE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MC'S AND DB'S.

A. GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE "SINGLE SEAT, SINGLE VOTE" SYSTEM OF VOTING IS USED IN ALL MC AND TWO-THIRDS OF THE DB CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS.

"THERE IS WIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THIS VOTING METHOD TO BE USED IN ALL THREE TIERS OF ELECTIONS,' HE SAID.

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THE LOWERING OF THE VOTING AGE FROM 21 TO 18 YEARS IS IN LINE WITH THE PRACTICE IN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES.

LOWERING OF THE VOTING AGE WILL BROADEN THE ELECTORATE FROM 3.7 MILLION TO 3.9 MILLION.

POTENTIAL

THE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS WILL BE INCREASED FROM 15 TO 32 URBAN COUNCIL (UC) AND FROM 12 TO 27 FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCIL

FOR

THE (RC).

AS A RESULT, IN 1995 THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP FOR UC WILL BE 41 AND 39 FOR THE RC.

THIS ENSURES THE MC'S WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A VIABLE SIZE AFTER THE ABOLITION OF APPOINTED SEATS.

/THE LIFTING