TNAG-1717-FCO40-2397-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 76

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1988 DISTRICT BOARDS ELECTIONS

SUMMARY:

1.

HRB 011

495 CANDIDATES ARE STANDING FOR ELECTIONS AT THE CLOSE OF THE

NOMINATION PERIOD ON 1 FEBRUARY. THE NUMBER OF ELECTED SEATS ON THE

NINETEEN DISTRICT BOARDS WILL BE INCREASED BY 24 FROM 237 TO 264 IN

THE NEXT TERM. THE NUMBER OF CONSTITUENCIES WILL ALSO BE INCREASED

FROM 145 TO 157. POLLING DAY WILL BE 10 MARCH.

DETAILS:

2.

THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES IS QUITE CLOSE TO THAT FOR THE 1985 DISTRICT BOARDS ELECTIONS, WHICH WAS 501. 212 CANDIDATES ARE SERVING DB MEMBERS, INCLUDING SEVEN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, NINE URBAN COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TEN REGIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.

3.

THE CANDIDATES COME FROM A WIDE CRUSS SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY,

WITH THE LARGEST GROUPS BEING BUSINESSMEN (26 PER CENT) AND

EXECUTIVES (24 PER CENT). MOST OF THE REMAINDER ARE TEACHERS AND HEADMASTERS (13 PER CENT), PROFESSIONALS (11 PER CENT) AND SOCIAL WORKERS (TEN PER CENT). 89 PER CENT OF THE CANDIDATES ARE MALE. THE LARGEST AGE GROUP IS BETWEEN 31 TO 40 YEARS OLD (40 PER CENT).

4.

COMPARED WITH THE LAST DISTRICT BOARDS ELECTIONS, THE CANDIDATES FOR THE COMING ELECTIONS ARE ON AVERAGE YOUNGER, WITH MORE PEOPLE WORKING AS ADMINISTRATORS AND EXECUTIVES. FEMALE CANDIDATES ALSO INCREASED FROM SIX PER CENT TO 11 PER CENT.

5.

34 CANDIDATES IN 21 CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE RETURNED UNOPPOSED, COMPARED WITH 24 CANDIDATES IN 15 CONSTITUENCIES IN 1985. 30 OF THE UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES ARE SERVING DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, INCLUDING TWO DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMEN AND ONE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER.

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