TNAG-1352-FCO40-1793-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 47

Explanatory Memorandum

The object of this Bill is to provide for the

indirect election of Members to the Legislative Council and

to give effect to the proposals contained in the White

Paper entitled the "Further Development of Representative

Government in Hong Kong" which was published and laid

before the Legislative Council in November 1984. In order

to be consistent with existing electoral law, this Bill is

broadly similar to the Urban Council Ordinance, the

District Boards Ordinance and the Electoral Provisions

Ordinance.

2. Part I (clauses 1 and 2) of the Bill contains the

short title and interpretation clause.

3. Clause 2 includes similar definitions as contained

in existing electoral law but also defines "electoral

college constituency", "functional constituency", "elected

Member" and "electoral division" etc. The concept of a

"substantial connexion" with a functional constituency has

been introduced in the case of such a constituency where the

relevant electors, either wholly or in part, comprise

corporate bodies and must, as a consequence, be represented

by an individual "connected" with that constituency, e.g. a

director or manager of a bank in the case of the Financial

functional constituency.

4.

Part II (clauses 3 to 11) deals with the holding

of elections, the establishment of electoral college

constituencies and functional constituencies and general

provisions for the election of Members including the

filling of casual vacancies.