TNAG-1289-FCO40-1641-Terminology-for-the-description-of-Hong-Kong-by-internationa-1984 — Page 142

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The need to ensure a balanced representation of interests also figured prominently in discussion of the proposed electoral college. Some concern was expressed that the election of members on the basis of a single list might result in the elections being dominated by particular groups of District Board members. It was suggested that the members of the college should be divided into separate geographical groups to elect one member each, in order to ensure that all parts of Hong Kong would be fairly represented.

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As regards the position of the appointed Unofficial members, there was wide public appreciation of the valuable service they have provided; and a general recognition that it would be wise to retain their experience and expertise at least for some years to come. It was also generally accepted that there will be a continuing need for a core of Official members to remain on the Council. It is only prudent to conclude that, if the Council is to deal efficiently with the wide range of legislative, financial and other business which comes before it, this experience and expertise must not be lost, at least until elected members have gained a similar knowledge and experience of the workings of government.

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Taking all this into account, the Government has decided to make a number of changes to the original proposals in the Green Paper for the future composition of the Legislative Council.

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First, the number of members who will be elected by the electoral college and the functional contituencies in 1985 will be increased, in both cases from six to twelve.

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Secondly, it is intended to divide the District Board members of the electoral college into geographical constituencies, based on groups of Districts, each of which will represent roughly half a million people. Details of thse groups are given in the White Paper. In addition, the Urban Council and Regional Council members of the college will each form a separate constituency. These twelve constituencies within the electoral college will each elect one member to the Legislative Council in 1985.