XN000022-1994-07-28 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1994

HE SAID THE

COMMISSION ANTICIPATED THAT COMBINING DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCIES FROM TWO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS ΤΟ FORM A LEGCO CONSTITUENCY WOULD MEET THE OPPOSITION FROM RESIDENTS DISTRICTS, BECAUSE THEY CONSIDERED THEMSELVES RESIDENTS DISTINCT DISTRICTS.

POLITICIANS OF THE DISTRICTS CONCERNED WOULD

LEGCO TO RAISE STRONG OBJECTIONS, FOR SUCH A NEW ADVERSELY AFFECT THEIR POLITICAL INFLUENCE.

OF BOTH FROM TWO

EXPECTED MIGHT

ALSO BE CONSTITUENCY

"MATTERS RELATING ΤΟ MAINTAINING POLITICAL INFLUENCE OR ADVANTAGE ARE NOT ONLY IRRELEVANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE COMMISSION, BUT THE COMMISSION SHOULD AVOID EVEN GIVING ANY SEMBLANCE OF FAVOURING ANY ONE POLITICIAN OR POLITICAL PARTY AS AGAINST OTHERS," MR JUSTICE WOO SAID.

HE ELABORATED ON THE DIFFICULTY ENCOUNTERED IN THE DEMARCATION EXERCISE WHERE THE POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AMONG THE DISTRICTS WAS UNEVEN.

FOR INSTANCE, IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG ISLAND, THERE WAS A CONCENTRATION OF POPULATION IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT, ARGUABLY JUSTIFYING TWO CONSTITUENCIES ON ITS OWN.

HOWEVER, IF TWO CONSTITUENCIES WERE ALLOCATED TO THE DISTRICT, THERE WOULD ONLY BE TWO CONSTITUENCIES LEFT TO BE SHARED AMONG THE OTHER THREE DISTRICTS - CENTRAL AND WESTERN, WAN CHAI AND SOUTHERN,

CARVING UP AT LEAST ONE OF THESE DISTRICTS WOULD BE UNAVOIDABLE, BUT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DECIDE WHICH DISTRICT SHOULD BE SPLIT.

MR JUSTICE WOO SAID ANY DECISION MIGHT VERY WELL BE NOT SUPPORT BY LOGIC.

DURING THE

ARBITRARY,

MEMBERS OF THE HOURS AT

ONE-MONTH PUBLIC CONSULTATION, PUBLIC CAN INSPECT THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY MAPS DURING OFFICE OVER 400 LOCATIONS:

* THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE;

* THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINSITRATION HEADQUARTERS;

* ALL THE DISTRICT OFFICES AND THEIR SUB-OFFICES;

* THE ESTATE OFFICES OF ALL PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES;

* ALL POST OFFICES;

* ALL URBAN COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCIL LIBRARIES; AND

* THE GOVRNMENT PUBLICATION CENTRE.

THE CHAIRMAN ENCOURAGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO LET THE COMMISSION HAVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE PROVISIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

NOT ONLY THOSE WHO HAD DISSENTING VIEWS SHOULD MAKE KNOWN THEIR OPINIONS, THOSE WHO WERE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD ALSO LET THE COMMISSION KNOW, SO THAT THE COMMISSION MIGHT TAKE A WELL CONSIDERED AND BALANCED DECISION ON THE MATTER BEFORE FINALISING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.

/THOSE WHO