TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 52

Electoral College

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Developments since the 1984 White Paper

23.

The objective of the electoral college system is

primarily to ensure that there are members in the

Legislative Council who represent the interests of the

people of Hong Kong on the basis of a reasonably balanced

geographical distribution of seats. Although membership of

the college is limited to members of District Boards and the

municipal councils, the electoral college may nominate and

elect any person who is a registered elector on

elector on the general

electoral roll and who has resided in Hong Kong for at least

ten years immediately before the date of nomination.

24.

Before the 1985 elections, the concept of the

electoral college was generally favourably received,

although there was some comment that members of the college

should not be given exclusively the right to judge, on

behalf of the general public, who is suitable to sit in the

Legislative Council.

25.

The arrangements for the 1985 elections gave rise

to certain specific criticisms. The way in which districts

were grouped together to form electoral college

constituencies was felt, in some cases, to be illogical and

to have resulted in the artificial linking of areas which in

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