TNAG-1288-FCO40-1639-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 120

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AT ANY TIME BY ADVICE IN WRITING TO THE REGISTRATION OFFICES, AND ALSO FOR THE CONSTITUENCIES TO BE DEFINED AND FOR THE SEATS IN EACH CONSTITUENCY TO BE DECLARED BY ORDER. IT IS OTHERWISE PROPOSED THAT THE PROVISIONS DEALING WITH THE NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES, THE LODGEMENT OF NOMINATION PAPERS, THE VOTING PROCEDURE AND CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS, THE PROCESSING OF ELECTION APPEALS AND SO ON SHOULD BE AS IN THE EXISTING ELECTORAL PROVISIONS ORDINANCE AND ASSOCIATED LEGISLATION APPLICABLE TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.

17 29.

AS IN THE CASE OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONSTITUENCIES THE QUELIFICATIONS FOR NOMINATION AS A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY CANDIDATE WILL BE THAT THE NOMINEE SHALL HAVE REGISTERED

AS A VOTER ON THE GENERAL ELECTORAL ROLL AND HAVE RESIDED IN HONG KONG FOR THE TEN YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF HIS NOMINATION AND, ADDITIONALLY, THE NOMINEE SHALL ALSO HAVE REGISTERED AS VOTER FOR THAT CONSTITUENCY. IT WILL ALSO

BE NECESSARY TO BE A REGISTERED VOTER ON THE GENERAL ELECTORAL ROLL TO QUALIFY AS A VOTER IN A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY. PERSONS WITH DUAL ELEICIBILITY WILL BE REQUIRED TO OPT FOR THE

CONSTITUENCY IN WHICH THEY PROPOSE TO VOTE.

20. NO PERSON SHALL HAVE MORE THAN ONE VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, EITHER THROUGH THE GEOGRAPHICAL OR SPECIAL CONSTITUENCIES OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE OR THROUGH

THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.

2. CONSULTATIONS WILL BE HELD WITH THE ORGANISATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES WHICH WILL MAKE UP THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, WITH A VIEW TO WORKING OUT DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS

FOR THE 1985 ELECTIONS.

APPOINTED UNOFFICAL MEMBERS

19 22. IT WAS PROPOSED IN THE GREEN PAPER THAT THE NUMBER OF

APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SHOULD BE REDUCED PROGRESSIVELY TO 23 IN 1985 AND 16 IN 1998. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS PROPOSAL VARIED WIDELY FROM SUPPORT FOR THE RETENTION OF APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS INDEFINITELY TO SUGGESTIONS THAT THEY SHOULD BE REMOVED.

FROM THE COUNCIL COMPLETELY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

20 23. IF AN ELEMENT OF CONTINUITY IS TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO REDUCE APPRECIABLY OR TOO HASTILY THE NUMBER OF APPOINTED MEMBERS AT THIS STAGE,

FOR THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THE WORKINGS OF THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT

BE LOST. THE INTRODUCTION OF 24 ELECTED MEMBERS INTO A COUCIL

OF THE PRESENT SIZE WOULD REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE

NUMBER OF APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS. IT HAS THEREFORE

BEEN DECIDED TO INCREASE THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE COUNCIL TO 56 AND TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF APPOINTED UNOFFICAL MEMBERS TO 22 IN 1985. THE INCREASE IN THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE COUNCIL IS SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC VIEW THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD

BE LARGER IN ORDER TO MEET THE WIDE AND DIVERSE NEEDS OF

PRESENT-DAY HONG KONG.

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CONFIDENTIAL

/OFFICIAL

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