TNAG-1353-FCO40-1794-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 68

18. IN BOTH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES,

A CANDIDATE MUST HAVE A RESIDENTIAL QUALIFICATION OF 10 YEARS.

A CANDIDATE FOR A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY MUST IN ADDITION HAVE

A ''SUBSTANTIAL CONNECTION' WITH THAT CONSTITUENCY. FOR EXAMPLE, HE SHOULD BE A MEMBER, DIRECTOR, PARTNER OR OFFICER OF A COMPANY IN THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONSTITUENCIES, OR BE ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF BANKING IN THE FINANCIAL CONSTITUENCY. IN THE CASE OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, THE MEMBERS WILL BE FREE TO NOMINATE

- SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE CONSTITUENCY, IF THEY SO WISH.

A PERSON WHO HOLDS PUBLIC OFFICE E.G. IS EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT,

WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAND AS A CANDIDATE: AND NO PERSON MAY STAND

AS A CANDIDATE IN MORE THAN ONE CONSTITUENCY.

19. IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THOSE CANDIATES WHO ARE ELECTED TO BE

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE CONSENSUS

OF THE VOTERS IN THEIR CONSTITUENCIES, AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY VOTING

PROCEDURE WILL BE USED, RATHER THAN THE SIMPLE MAJORITY PROCEDURE

USED IN THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS ELECTIONS. UNDER THE

ABSOLUTE MAJORITY PROCEDURE A CANDIDATE MUST SECURE MORE THAN 50

PERCENT OF THE VOTES CAST IN ORDER TO WIN. THE DETAILS OF THE

VOTING PROCEDURE WILL BE SET OUT IN THE SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS

WHICH WILL BE MADE AFTER THE BILL HAS BEEN ENACTED.

20. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985

ALSO PROVIDES FOR DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS USED (PART 1),

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND FUNCTIONAL

CONSTITUENCIES AND GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE ELECTIONS

OF MEMBERS (PART 1), THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS (PART IV),

THE SUPERVISION OF THE ELECTIONS (PART VI), ELECTION PETITIONS (PART VII) AND VARIOUS MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS (PART VIII),

INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING TO BE IN SECRET.

21. SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS CONTAINING DETAILED PROCEDURES FOR

THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS, THE APPOINTMENT OF AUTHORISED

REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SUPERVISION OF THE ELECTIONS WILL BE

PUBLISHED SEPARATELY, AS SOON AS THEY HAVE BEEN FINALISED AND APPROVED.

22. THE FIRST ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR

AND WILL BE SUPERVISED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, IN A SIMILAR FASHION

TO THAT IN WHICH THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS ELECTIONS

ARE CONDUCTED AT PRESENT.

ENDS

YOUDE

MINIMAL

HKD

4

CONFIDENTIAL

COPLES TO

HKGO LONDON