TNAG-1355-FCO40-1796-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 213

C200

ELECTIONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL

for clarification of the ground of connexion with a government outside Hong Kong as a disqualification, and inserts the ground of unsoundness of mind. The amendments are consistent with similar provisions in the District Boards Ordinance, the Legisla- tive Council (Electoral Provisions) Ordinance and the proposed Regional Council legislation.

11. Clause 21 amends section 21 of the Electoral Provisions Ordinance to insert a reference to the Regional Council and to clarify the position of District Board members who may also stand for election to the Regional Council and vice versa. Clause 22 inserts a new section 22A which provides that an Urban Councillor elected to the Regional Council shall be deemed to have resigned from the Urban Council, and vice versa.

12. Clause 23 amends section 33 of the Electoral Provisions Ordinance, and clause 24 and the Second, Third and Fourth Schedules amend the Electoral Provisions (Procedure) Regulations, the Electoral Provisions (Electoral Petitions) Rules and orders made under the Ordinance, to take account of the proposed Regional Council and the terms "Urban Council area" and "Regional Council area".

13. Part IV of the Bill contains amendments to the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance (Cap. 288). Clause 25 inserts a definition of "representative member" of the Regional Council. Clause 26, replacing section 3, applies the Ordinance to elections and to elected members of the Regional Council, but excluding any election of representative members by District Boards. Clause 27 and the Fifth Schedule revoke and replace the Urban Council and Disrtrict Boards Election Expenses Order 1984. The new order fixes the maximum scale of election expenses at $35,000 for candidates for election to the Urban Council or Regional Council and $20,000 in the case of candidates for District Boards. There is no change from the existing scale.

14. Clause 28 in Part V of the Bill, and the Sixth Schedule, amend the Post Office Regulations to exempt from postage one election letter to each elector in a constituency from a candidate standing for the Legislative Council or the Regional Council in that constituency. A similar exemption exists in respect of the Urban Council and District Boards.

15. The Bill has no Public Service staffing implications and only minimal public expenditure implications arising from extension of the exemptions from postage provided by clause 28. The revenue loss is not quantifiable at this stage.