TNAG-1596-FCO40-2181-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 144

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Method of election

6.

If one of the above systems of election is chosen, it would be necessary to give consideration to the method of election and voting system to be used, and to the machinery for submitting the elected candidate for appointment by the Central People's Government. As regards voting systems, candidates might either be elected by a simple majority, or be required to obtain the support of at least two-thirds of the electing body. Alternatively a preferential system of voting, similar to that which is now used for the election to the Legislative Council of representatives of the functional constituencies, might be preferred.

7.

If a "grand electoral college" (GEC) were to constitute the electoral body, it might be prudent to adopt a procedure for nominations and for the selection of a short list of

of candidates. One option might be for the GEC to elect, from among its members, "a nominating committee" with responsibility for drawing up a short list of candidates. Alternatively the system might simply require candidates to be nominated by certain number of ordinary electors and then endorsed by a specified number of members of the GEC. The latter system would be more open and therefore more likely to foster public confidence in the electoral proceedings.

Term of office

8.

It was suggested in Paper II of May 1986 that the term of office of the Chief Executive could either coincide with that of the legislature, or be staggered to provide for the selection of the

the Chief Executive at a date different from that of elections to the legislature.

g.

Whichever option were selected, the Chief Executive would need to be assured of a strong body of support within the legislature. This would help to ensure the smooth implementation of the policies of the executive and the efficient conduct of government business legislature.

in

the

10.

Note 2 of October 1986 suggested that one way of ensuring that the Chief Executive enjoyed sufficient support would be for at least a proportion of the legislature to be elected by the same electorate as would

would choose

choose the Chief Executive himself. If, for example, a "grand electoral college" system were chosen as the means of electing the Chief Executive, the same body might also be given the responsibility for electing a certain proportion of the legislature from a list of candidates nominated by the Chief Executive.

/cont'd. ...

G.F. 316

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