XN000022-1994-11-23 — Page 39

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1994

VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION

A

A

IN

AND MAN-KWONG FOLLOWING IS

QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

QUESTION: THE GOVERNMENT HAS EARLIER INDICATED SUPPORT FOR THE REFORM VILLAGE OF THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTION OF

IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, REPRESENTATIVES

INCLUDING SUCH ASPECTS AS ADVOCATING VOTING RIGHTS FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, LOWERING

LIMIT THE VOTING AGE TO 18 AND IMPOSING A TENURE FOR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. IN CONNECTION WITH THIS, WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL:

REPLY:

(A)

OF THE PROGRESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSALS SINCE THEN;

THE REFORM

(B)

BY

COMMITTEES

(C)

WHETHER THE REFORM WILL BE COMPLETED AS SCHEDULED THE END OF MARCH NEXT YEAR, WHEN THE RURAL OF ALL DISTRICTS WILL BE RE-ELECTED FOR A NEW TERM; IF

WHAT THE NOT,

REASONS ARE AND WHO

BF SHOULD

HELD

RESPONSIBLE; AND

HOW WILL THE ADMINISTRATION MONITOR THAT THE REFORM IS

WHETHER CARRIED OUT PROMPTLY IN ALL VILLAGES AND

IT THAT WILL CONSIDER INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE THE THREE PRINCIPLES MENTIONED ABOVE MUST BE FOLLOWED IN THE ELECTION OF VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVES, SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE ELECTION WILL BECOME MORE DEMOCRATIC?

THE EXISTING

VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVE (VR) SYSTEM HAS 40 YEARS. IT HAS EVOLVED FROM

AMONG HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS

BEEN IN

FOR EXISTENCE

OVER

A SYSTEM OF ΤΟ THE PRESENT SELECTION BY NOMINATION SYSTEM WHERE BASICALLY VRS ARE ELECTED, ALBEIT ON A LIMITED FRANCHISE. HITHERTO, IT HAS BEEN WIDELY ACCEPTED AMONG THE RURAL SECTOR.

THE

VOTER'S

A

ADOPTION ONE-PERSON- ALL VRS WITH WELCOME THE HYK'S THIS CHANGE,

STATUTORY NEVERTHELESS,

HEUNG YEE KUK (HYK), WHICH IS

RECOGNISES ADVISORY BODY TO THE GOVERNMENT ON NEW TERRITORIES AFFAIRS, THAT THE SYSTEM OF VR ELECTION WILL HAVE TO CHANGE TO MEET PRESENT DAY CIRCUMSTANCES. AND THE HYK ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS YEAR THE OF NEW RULES FOR VR ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON THE BASIS OF

AND ONE-VOTE,

AGE BEING LOWERED TO 18 WITH SERVING A FOUR-YEAR TERM. WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION INITIATIVE IN THIS REGARD, WE RECOGNISE THAT TO EFFECT THE HYK NEEDS THE COOPERATION OF THE VILLAGERS CONCERNED, BECAUSE

WE RECOGNISE ALSO TAKES TIME TO CHANGE ATTITUDE AND TRADITION. THIS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH PERSUASION AND EDUCATION TO THAT THERE IS WILLING ACCEPTANCE OF THE NEW RULES, IF THE CHANGE IS TO BE EFFECTED SMOOTHLY.

IT THAT ENSURE

/THE HYK