TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 146

IT WOULD THUS NUMBER IN THE REGION OF 430 MEMBERS. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WOULD ELECT A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES TO BE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WOULD BE ABLE TO ELECT ANYONE WITH CERTAIN PRESCRIBED QUALIFICATIONS, E.G. ANY REGISTERED ELECTOR WHO HAS BEEN ORDINARILY RESIDENT IN HONG KONG FOR A MINIMUM OF 10 YEARS, (WHICH ARE THE SAME BASIC QUALIFICATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS) AND NOT NECESSARILY FROM AMONG THEIR NUMBER. THESE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE INTROGUCED PROGRESSIVELY WITH A VIEW TO THE EVENTUAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS ELECTED BY THE ELECTORAL

COLLEGE BEING 20.

37. IN THE CASE OF THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE PRESENT INFORMAL SYSTEM OF SELECTING MEMBERS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF SUCH CONSTITUENCIES, WHICH HAS GROWN UP OVER MANY YEARS AND HAS PROVIDED MUCH SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE AND VALUABLE EXPERTISE, SHOULD BE DEVELOPED INTO A MORE FORMAL REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM BY THE INTRODUCTION OF APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTION BY EACH OF THESE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES ON ONE OR MORE REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. FOR EXAMPLE, THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION MIGHT BE ELECTED JOINTLY BY MEMBERS OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE LAW SOCIETY: AND THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF ELECTING TRADES UNION REPRESENTATIVES TO THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD MIGHT ALSO BE USED TO ELECT THE REPRESENTATIVES OF LABOUR ORGANISATIONS. THE MAIN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS MIGHT ELECT THE REPRESENTATIVES OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO QUALIFY AS AN ELECTOR IN ANY OF THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO BE A REGISTERED ELECTOR ON THE GENERAL ELECTORAL ROLL. THESE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD KBE INTRODUCED PROGRESSIVELY WITH A VIEW TO THE EVENTUAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS ELECTED BY THE FUNCTIONAL

CONSTITUENCIES BEING 20.

38. ALL THOSE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES FROM WHICH MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARE DRAWN AT PRESENT, E.G., COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, THE LEGAL PROFESSION, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AND LABOUR ORGANISATIONS, SHOULD BE REPRESENTED ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THERE MAY ALSO BE SOME OTHER FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WHICH SHOULD BE REPRESENTED ON THE COUNCIL IF THEY COVER A SUFFICIENTLY LARGE AND IMPORTANT SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY TO JUSTIFY INCLUSION, E.G. TRADITIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND OTHER MAJOR PROFESSIONS. THE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES TO BE ELECTED BY EACH FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY WOULD VARY ACCORDING TO ITS

SIZE AND SIGNIFICANCE.

39. IT IS PROPOSED THAT THESE NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE INDIRECT ELECTION OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO REPRESENT GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN THREE STAGES - IN 1985, 1988, AND 1991. THESE YEARS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT ALL UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD HOLD OFFICE FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE YEARS IN WHICH DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE AND BECAUSE THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF

SECRET

MEMBERS