TNAG-1354-FCO40-1795-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 94

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21.

Admittedly, the

number

of

functional

does nine returning 12 members

-

not

constituencies

reflect all the different facets of Hong Kong life.

This is clearly not possible, given the number of

different interests and groups in this developing

society. Furthermore, in order to

to ensure that business

is conducted efficiently and effectively, the size of

the Legislature Council must not become too large and

unwieldy. There has to be, therefore, some limit as

the number of functional

to

constituencies which can

reasonably be accommodated. This is not to say that the

number cannot be increased later on. But the nine

constituencies to be represented in the Legislative

Council from 1985 to 1988 were chosen with great care

after much argument and I believe they reflect

prevailing economic and social realities.

(9) Election of Members from Functional

Constituencies

22.

I understand that many members of the

Federation, and particularly the General Committee, have

been exercised over the question of ensuring that the

best of all the available and suitable candidates is

elected to fill the Federation's seat in the industrial

functional constituency. The other three organisations

which, together with the Federation make up the

industrial and commercial

commercial constituencies, are concerned

about the s ame question. So is the Government but,

provided the

generality of the

membership of each